Ruth E. Payne

Ruth Edna Payne, Frederick MD, 101, died at the home of her daughter in Pittsburgh PA. She was preceded in death by her husband of 55 years, Jack (1995) and a son, Robert (1999) .

Ruth was born on a farm in Etchison, MD in 1919 to William and Edna (Burns) Gue. She graduated from Gaithersburg High School (1937), married (1940) and raised five children just a short distance from the farm where she grew up. She was an excellent homemaker and talented seamstress, growing most of the food and sewing most of the clothes needed by the family while maintaining an immaculate house.

In the late 1950’s she embarked on her career working first at the W.T. Grant store (Rockville MD) and then at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (Beltsville MD and Madison WS). After retirement (1983) she worked part-time as a model home greeter for Ausherman Builders in Frederick (1995-2001), working until 80 years old.

Living in Maryland, Wisconsin, North Carolina and more recently Pennsylvania, her passions for cooking, gardening, shopping, sewing, crocheting and playing cards with friends and family continued. Throughout her life Ruth worked hard, remained active and nourished people around her with love and kindness. Most of all she loved her family and instilled in her children strong values that served them well.

She was the mother of three daughters, two sons and their spouses: Diane (Walter) Horning, Barbara (Robert) Strickler, Ruth Ann (Walter) Newman, Francis (Betty) Payne and Robert Payne (Ann).  She is survived by grandchildren; Michael and Stephen Newman, Scott Payne, Ray and Stewart Payne, Jennifer Pogatchnik, Kimberly Pendley, and Shelly Doyle, many great grandchildren, several great great grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

Family, friends and others whose lives Ruth touched are invited to a visitation at the Molesworth-Williams Funeral Home, 26401 Ridge Rd, Damascus MD on Monday, May 17, Noon – 1:00PM.  Private services will be held at the funeral home with interment at Mount Tabor United Methodist Church Cemetery, Etchison, MD.

 For those attending we will still follow Covid 19 guidelines, there will only be a limited number of people admitted, and they must be wearing an appropriate mask or face covering.   

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in her memory to Mount Tabor United Methodist Church, PO Box 191, Damascus, MD 20872.

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

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