Mary Ruth Riley “Ruth”, age 92 of Santa Clara, California passed away peacefully on July 22, 2022. She was born March 12, 1930 at home in Alliance, Ohio to the late Sadie and Earl Antram, the second of four children.
She received a BS in Education from Muskingham College, Ohio in 1952. In 1955, she married George Riley at Dellroy, (Ohio) Presbyterian Church. She was a mother of 4 boys. The boys not only learned the outside chores with Dad. But they also learned the domestic chores from Mom such as cooking and cleaning. After raising her four sons she worked in sales support at high tech companies for 15 years in silicon valley.
She was an active member in a number of churches including Grace United Methodist and Sunnyvale First United Methodist Church (FUMC). She was involved in the United Methodist Women (UMW) groups as a member, leader, and a Bible Study facilitator. At FUMC she was also involved in the craft group. That made items for a holiday fair each year to raise money to support missions. She usually made a quilt and some needle craft for auction at the fair.
She also loved to travel, taking 23+ tour trips over 18 years to far-flung destinations including . She took 23 tour trips in 18 years. They were in the United States and many other countries including Turkey, South America, Africa, and Australia.
Besides traveling, she was a very social person, enjoying family and community get-togethers and especially playing games such as canasta and parcheesi. She also has enjoyed doing crafts especially needle work like quilting, cross stitch, and crocheting. She made quilts for all of her sons and grandchildren and she had a special love for doing jigsaw puzzles.
Throughout her life she has spent her time and energy trying to impact other lives for the better. This included being a teacher, helping with little league, high school band boosters, volunteering with Friends Outside, and helping with grief counseling for widows.
She was predeceased by her parents, one older sister, Elizabeth, and a set of younger twin siblings, Alma and Albert, her husband George, a grandchild, Jason. She is survived by 4 children, 7 grandchildren, and 3 great-grandchildren.
The family suggests memorial contributions may be made to the:
Heifer International
1 World Avenue
Little Rock, AR 72202
www.heifer.org
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