Ruth Cowden Witter, 92, of Fairfield, died Tuesday, July 8, 2008 at her home after a long and full life.

Ruth was born in Dunkirk, New York on June 24, 1916 to Ida and Levi Cowden of Elm Place, Fredonia, New York.

She graduated from the old Fredonia Normal School and taught kindergarten at Silver Creek Central School where she met and married her principal, the late Ray C. Witter.

She later received her Masters in Library Science from Geneso State College.

She lived most of her life in western New York with the exception in later years, when she resided in Saranac Lake, New York and Fairfield, Virginia. She was a popular teacher in Alexander, Arcade, Illion, and at several elementary schools in Batavia. She was an avid gardener, a world traveler and excelled in her role as a homemaker.

She is survived by her three children: Ray Cowden Witter, Rear Admiral Ret., of Edina, Minnesota; and two daughters: Helen Witter Robertson of Fairfield, VA and Mary Witter Belliveau of Red Hook, New York. She was grandmother to twelve grandchildren and great grandmother to fifteen great grandchildren.

Ruth Witter's spirit of commitment to God and family, her spiritual gifts, work ethic and enthusiasm for life are reflected in her progency to the glory of God through grace and mercy of Jesus Christ, her lord.

Calling hours are from 5-7 p.m. at the Turner Funeral Home in Batavia, New York on Tuesday, July 15, 2008 and the funeral is scheduled for the Lagrange Baptist Church in La Grange, New York on Wednesday, July 16, at 11 a.m. Donation in her memory may be made to the Rockbridge Area Hospice, P. O. Box 948, Lexington, Virginia 24450.