"To all.... Please accept my deepest sympathy with the passing of Ruthie, or Mrs. Stokes as I knew her. Her devotion to the Lord helped in providing me with a firm foundation as a Christian. She was a great lady. Gary Weikel "
In loving memory of
Ruth R. Stokes
September 10, 1925 - May 17, 2017
Ruth R. Stokes, age 91, died Wednesday, May 17, 2017, at her home in Harleysville surrounded by her loving family.
Born in Windber, PA, Ruth is the daughter of the late John and Minnie (nee Mock) Rogers.
She moved to North Wales in 1933. She started taking guitar lessons with Betty Reichenback. The students were known as the "Stringlets." They played with WIBG radio station.
During that time she also enjoyed playing baseball and tennis. After graduating from North Wales High School in 1944 she the worked for S.K.F. in West Point where she met her future husband Harry E. Stokes. He was also involved with sports programs at the YMCA in Norristown. He started the first girl's hard ball team on the Eastern Shore called the "Norristown Nifties" of which Ruth played.
Ruth and Harry got married on August 27, 1949. In April 1954, she and Harry opened the "Sportsman's Paradise" store in Ambler which they had for 23 years. Ruth operated the store for the last 2 years herself after Harry died.
Ruth was the author of the autobiography Ruthie Brethren Girl. She was a "Red Hatter" and the oldest member of the Ambler Church of the Brethren.
In addition to Ruth's late husband Harry E. Stokes in 1975, she was preceded in death by her second husband Harold C. Lewis in 1986. She was also preceded in death by her sister Flora Mae Rogers age 5, brothers Alvin, Leonard, and Glen, and grandson Wayne Stokes.
Ruth is the beloved mother of Gail McGinty (Gary) of Warminster; and Scott Stokes (his companion Carolanne Catanzaro) of Ambler; and dear stepmother of Cherie Gibson of Hilton Head Island and Harold C. Lewis III of Hot Springs, SD. She is the loving grandmother of Kelly Quaile (Scott), Megan Taylor (Mark), Harry L. Stokes (fiancée Kristen Kajari) and the late Wayne Stokes. She is the proud great grandmother of Shannon, Maura, and Darcy Quaile and Cassidy, Brooke, and Garrett Taylor.
Relatives and friends are invited to call on Monday, May 22nd from 6:00 to 8:00 PM at the Anton B. Urban Funeral Home, 1111 S. Bethlehem Pike, Ambler; and on Tuesday, May 23rd from 9:30 to 10:30 AM at the Ambler Church of the Brethren, 351 E Butler Ave, Ambler, PA 19002. Ruth's funeral service will follow at 11:00 AM with Pastors, Enten and Mary Eller officiating. Interment will be in Church of the Brethren Cemetery in Ambler.
Remembrances in her name to Ambler Church of the Brethren's Building Fund at above address are appreciated by the family.
Tributes and photos may be shared at www.UrbanFuneralHome.com
Tributes
"Ruth was such a lovely soul. She smiled and greeted me during each encounter I had with her at church. My prayers and condolences to the whole family during this time. - Melissa Willard"
"My dear friend Gail, so sorry to hear of your Mother's passing. What a great life she enjoyed. My prayers to you and the entire family and that all of your great memories of Mom flow through. Lovingly, Bill Osborne"
"Gail, so sorry for you and your family. I know you will miss her desperately. How lucky you were to have had such a wonderful mother."