On July 31, 2019, Virginia Catherine Birch Ruth left this earth to be with our Lord.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Donald Ruth Sr.; her brother, Benny and her sisters, Violet, Frances, Evelyn and Sylvia.
Virginia was born in Buena Vista, Virginia, where she spent her younger days with her family.
Married at eighteen during World War II, she joined the WAC in 1942 when her husband enlisted in the Navy and was sent to the Pacific theatre.
After boot camp at Indiantown Gap, she was stationed at Ft. Belvoir in the motor pool since she had driving experience.
Attaining the rank of corporal E4 with secret clearance, she worked in teletype deciphering and encoding for in/out bound messages from Washington, D.C., during the war. Following her honorable discharge from the U. S. Army, she and her husband began their family and settled in Dundalk, Md.
Virginia became a homemaker and mother of five while her husband became a Baltimore County police officer, eventually attaining the rank of sergeant. She was a den mother for the Cub Scouts, Girl Scouts and Camp Fire Girls as well as support for the Dundalk Drum and Bugle Corp her children participated in.
During that time period Virginia also worked for the Dundalk Police Precinct preparing meals for prisoners daily in her home.
The BCPD would pick up the meals and deliver them from her home.
Her love of children extended to her husband's work as well as when children in difficult circumstances needed help before Social Services or their families could care for them. Once the meal contract was given to a commercial vendor, she eventually became employed the state of Maryland Toll Facility at the Baltimore Harbor Tunnel, where she stayed untill she retired with the rank of sergeant. Her nickname at the Toll Facility was "Bumble Bee" because she always kept moving and working.
Her retirement days were filled with gardening and interacting with her seven grandchildren whom she adored, as well as traveling to Florida many times with her husband untill his passage in 1998.
She stayed at home gardening, always accompanied by her favorite dog, and enjoyed visits from her great-grandchildren despite her declining health. She moved to Madonna Heritage Nursing Home several years ago and became a favorite with the staff.
The U. S. Army visited her on July 10 to present her with a Veteran Pin to thank her for her service, which she proudly wore.
Placed on hospice two weeks ago, she passed away peacefully on the morning of July 31, 2019 and has earned her eternal rest.
She is survived by her daughter, Catherine O'Neill, son-in-law John O'Neill Jr., daughter, Patricia Waldrop, son-in-law, Robert Waldrop, son, Donald F. Ruth Jr., son, Bruce A Ruth, daughter, Norma Jean Filleti, son-in-law, Frederick Filleti; grandchildren, John O'Neill III, Catherine A. O'Neill, Jaimie Allen, Anthony Filleti, Thomas Filleti, Anna Filleti and Matthew Filleti. She is also survived by nine great-grandchildren.
Virginia's final request was that in lieu of flowers that donations be made to the Dystonia Medical Research Foundation.
A funeral service will be held at the family-owned Duda-Ruck Funeral Home of Dundalk, Inc., 7922 Wise Ave., on Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2019 at 9 A.M. Interment, Oak Lawn Cemetery. Visitation will be held at the funeral home on Monday, August 5, from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m.
