Ruth Hathaway-Smith

Ruth Hathaway-Smith, 93, of Walnut Creek, fell asleep in the Lord on Tuesday, August 29, 2017, in the care of Hospice at Park Village Health Care Center in Dover, Ohio. Ruth was born in Springfield, Massachusetts. She was the daughter of the last Ernest and Ethel Turner Bass.

Ruth lived most of her life in Milford, Connecticut and part of her retirement years in Florida, moving later in retirement years to Ohio. She taught first grade for many years in Milford, CT. She was a dedicated Sunday school teacher and was actively involved for many years as NE District Missionary President for the Church of the Nazarene. She enjoyed hosting many missionaries in her home. At the time of her death, she was a member of the North Fort Myers Church of the Nazarene in Florida. Her entire life actively manifested her unbroken commitment to her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, as His Witness.

Ruth is survived by her second husband, George Smith, whom she married on July 18, 2003 in Martinsburg, West Virginia; and her two daughters, Cher Hathaway of New Philadelphia and Joy Hathaway (Richard Fillon) of Massachusetts and a son, Dale (Heather) Hathaway of Illinois; six grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her first husband, M. Kenneth Hathaway, Jr.; two brothers, Ernest and David Bass, and a sister, Evelyn Bass.

Visiting hours will be from 4-5 PM on Thursday, September 7, 2017 with services immediately following, officiated by Pastor Joe Schulz of New Pointe Community Church, of Dover, Ohio at Linn-Hert-Gibb Funeral Home & Crematory, 116 Second Street NW, New Philadelphia, Ohio. A private graveside service will be conducted at the Baptist Village Cemetery in East Longmeadow, Massachusetts at a later date.

Memorial contributions, in Ruth’s name, may be made to the missionary society at the North Fort Myers Church of the Nazarene, 6781 Bayshore Rd., North Fort Myers, FL 33917.