Ruth Adele Youngs Garrett, 90, a long-time resident of Clarksburg, MD, passed away at her home on January 26, 2017.

Ruth was born into a very musical family in 1926, in Washington, D.C., to the late Lloyd and Rosalie Youngs, who were in the entertainment field.  Lloyd was an Orchestral Violinist, and Rosalie, a concert pianist.  They both had acted in Vaudevillian shows during WWI.   In 1929, Ruth’s family moved to Colonial Beach, Virginia, where they enjoyed a slower pace.  They returned to Washington in 1939, where Rosalie worked as a typist for the Federal Government, and Lloyd played violin for the hungry and homeless in the breadlines.

It was at this time, that Ruthie met her lifelong, best friend Lois Agee, 89, who is currently a resident of Hagertown, MD. They attended school together, and were totally inseparable.  In 1947, Ruth joined Lois, and her older sister, Aletha, to sing for the troops until the end of the war.

Ruthie continued as a solo vocalist with big bands, to include Count Basie.  Her vocal talents landed her a prestigious position as the lead vocalist with the Moonlite Cruise Orchestra, which cruised the Potomac River every Friday night to Marshall Hall, Virginia.

In 1946, Ruth met and later married, John Harold (Reds) Garrett, Sr.  They had 3 children together.  Reds passed in 1984.

Ruthie was an avid gardner, a builder of stone walls, and an Executive Administrative Assistant with Montgomery County, Maryland Government for over 30 years. In 1960, Ruth won the Powder Puff Stock Car Derby at Con Don Speed Raceway, in Taylorsville, Maryland.  Ruth was also a professional clown, Beloved Belinda, performing with her daughters, Lee (Raggitty Ann), Fritzi (Raggitty Andy).  They performed with local TV celebrities Ranger Hal and Ronald McDonald. They entertained such notables as Senator Barry Goldwater, the then VA Governor John Warner, Meteorologist Bob Ryan, and talk show host Charlie Rose.

Ruth’s lifelong dream was to learn to tap dance.  She joined the Highsteppers Dance Troop at the Damascus Senior Center when she was 78.  They entertained regularly at area retirement communities.  Her last show was August 26, 2016.

Ruth is survived by her husband, William H. Henderson, and her three children, Lois Aletha (Lee) Phebus, John Harold (Buddy) Garrett, Jr., and Ida Frances (Fritzi) Moyars, five grandchildren, Jon Karl Phebus, Kelly Youngs Phebus, Robert Stephen Phebus, Mitchell Aaron Moyars, John Corey Garrett, and five great grandchildren, Emmalee Ruth Phebus, Garrett Jackson Phebus, Lila Carroll Phebus, Kayleigh Joann Moyars and Aaron Nicholas Moyars.

Funeral Arrangements are private. The Family will be hosting a Celebration/Wake in Ruth’s Honor, at the Damascus American Legion, on Friday, February 3rd, from 4:00 to 8:00, for family and friends.

Ruthie will be missed by all those whose lives she touched.

Online condolences may be shared with the family at www.molesworthwilliams.com