Ruth Anne Thomas

He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away. Revelation 21:4

Ruth Anne Thomas, of Beavercreek, Ohio passed away peacefully with her family surrounding her, on the night of January 25, 2022 after a battle with cancer. She was born August 19, 1948 in Gaffney, South Carolina to Colonel Steedly Pittman and Ruth Gosnell Hawkins.

Ruth was a devoted mother, loving grandmother, cherished sister, aunt and friend. Growing up as a "military brat" she lived in Washington, D.C., the Panama Canal Zone, Ohio and California. She was a graduate of Vacaville High School, attended Solano College and Baylor University. She settled in Oxnard, California while raising her three girls and moved to Beavercreek in 1996. Ruth loved the Lord. She had a strong Christian faith that sustained her following the sudden death of her daughter, Melanie, at the age of 14.

Music was a big part of her life. She loved the piano, playing beautifully herself and always enjoying listening to others play. Her brother, Roger, would often call her while he was shopping in Nordstrom just to let her listen to the piano being played there. Ruth possessed a gift for crafts, enjoying sewing, painting, crocheting, cross-stitching and egg crafting. She would start with a simple white goose egg and decorate it, transforming it into a musical jewelry box or a Christmas tree ornament, a bell or a hat. When you were gifted one of these art pieces, you treasured it. They were stunning. You could see not only the hours she spent on each individual egg but the patience she had in making it perfect.

She was a designer extraordinaire when it came to Halloween costumes. She made anything that was requested, from a perfect Cabbage Patch Kid doll costume for Melanie to a mascot-like Hello Kitty costume for Samantha that included a matching dress for her stuffed animal as well. She was most definitely famous for her super-yummy Christmas cookies. Upon request she would make them year round for "special visitors." Ruth was an avid reader, reading Christian books or biographies. If it was a book that she really loved she would read only a single chapter each night because she didn't want to finish it too fast. She was an ardent fan of all whom she called family or friend and lavished them with her attention. She had an infectious laugh and never complained. She was loved. The loss of her here on earth will always be profound.

Ruth was preceded in death by her parents, her daughter, Melanie Ruth Thomas and brother, Roger Pittman Hawkins. She is survived by her daughter, Stephanie (Chad) Foster; grandchildren, Samantha, Brad, and Karlee Foster; sisters, Carole (Preston) Davis, Sharon (James) Iversen, and Kathy Ritter; nieces and nephews, Jennifer (Matthew) Bradley, Sonny (Maggie) Davis, John Davis, Jamie and Kristy Iversen, Jessica (Jason) Jones, and Ashley (Austin) Beal; great nieces and nephews, Rebecca, George, Henry, and Travis Bradley, Brad Davis, Jaxon and Jameson Jones, and Avery Beal.

The family would like to express our deepest appreciation to Ruth's long time friend and companion, Lee Semiatin, for his friendship, care and devotion. We wish to thank Hospice of Dayton and Visiting Angels, who took such good care of her.

Ruth will be laid to rest at Ivy Lawn Memorial Park and Funeral Home in Ventura, California, at a later date.

To share a memory of Ruth or to leave a special message for her family, please visit the guestbook below.