Sara L. Ruth

Sara L. Ruth, age 82 of Carmichaels, Pa. died Tuesday, May 6, 2008 in Southwest Regional Medical Center, Waynesburg, Pa. following a brief illness. She was born September 25, 1925 in Carmichaels, a daughter of the late John Laidley and Goldie Minerva (Martin) Ruth. Miss Ruth was a 1943 graduate of Cumberland Township High School and a life long member of the First United Methodist Church in Carmichaels. Sara held several jobs in the years following graduation, including Willis & Davidson Flower Shop, Ziggie Jankowski Service Station, Cumberland Supply Company in Crucible during World War II, Penn Paper Company in Waynesburg where she became floor manager and Waynesburg Creamery where she was plant foreman. Throughout the next several decades, Sara worked in land acquisition and as a purchasing agent for several coal companies. She started working in 1961 with Twilight Industries, Inc., at Belle Vernon, Pa. She was also employed by Lykes Resources, at the same time driving school buses for Baily's Garage, Inc. in the Carmichaels Area School District, at which time she became the first female bus driver in Cumberland Township. Her next employer was National Mines Corporation of Lexington, Ky. She later became Coal Procurement Officer for Viable Coal Company Inc. and retired from Target Industries, Inc in September of 1991. From 1991 to the present she worked part-time for Haulit, Inc. which became LaidLaw and now First Student as a Bus Monitor for the Carmichaels Area School District. There she received the love and respect of all the students she helped transport daily. Her service record for her community was outstanding. Starting in 1965 she joined the King Coal Association and became the President of the association, a position she held for 27 years. That same year she also joined the Carmichaels Area Chamber of Commerce, Inc., where she held the office of President in the following years: 1979, 1980, 1990-91, 2006-07. Due to her extensive volunteer work with the Carmichaels & Cumberland Township Volunteer Fire Company, she was bestowed an honorary membership on October 3, 1997 and became the first female member of the Fire Company. She also had memberships in the following organizations; the Carmichaels Lions Club, the Greene County Fireman's Association, the Southwestern Pennsylvania Fireman's Association and the Greene Academy of Art. Areas of volunteer service also included the American Heart Association, the American Cancer Society and the Allegheny Trails Boy Scouts of America. She numbered among her host of friends many politicians and at one time served as county committeewoman for the Greene County Democratic Party. Her greatest honor came in 1980 when she was received the Outstanding Women's Service Award. For this Sara was presented by Representative H. William DeWeese a citation from the State House of Representatives and on behalf of Senator J. Barry Stout, a resolution of congratulations from the State Senate, and congratulations from the State Democratic Party and from Congressman Austin J. Murphy. Surviving is a brother J. William "Bill" Ruth and his wife Dolores (Dee) of Carmichaels and a niece Sherri L. Miller, who made her home with Sara. Also surviving are several nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews. She will be sadly missed by her beloved dog, Bruno. Deceased in addition to her parents are a brother Ralph Ruth and three sisters; Lottie Ruth Gwynn, Margaret Jacobs and Dorothy P. Booze. Family and friends are welcome from 7 to 9 P.M. Thursday and 2 to 4 P.M. and 7 to 9 P.M. Friday in the Yoskovich Funeral Home, Martin J. Yoskovich, Funeral Director, 300 South Vine Street, Carmichaels. Additional visitation will be held Saturday, May 10, 2008 from 10:00 A.M. to 11:00 A.M., the hour of service in the First United Methodist Church, Carmichaels. The Rev. Roger C. Saunders will officiate. Interment will follow in Greene County Memorial Park, Waynesburg. The Carmichaels & Cumberland Volunteer Fire Company will hold a memorial service at 7:30 P.M. on Friday in the funeral home. The Family suggests that memorial donations be made to the American Heart Association, 5455 N. High St., Columbus, OH 43214 or to The American Cancer Society, P. O. Box 22718, Oklahoma City, OK 73123-1718.