A daughter of the late Harold J. and Charlotte Stopperich Starkey, she was born on December 1, 1929 in Houston, Pennsylvania.
Ruth married the late Donald Lacey in 1953. They had lived in Alexandria, VA, then Springfield, VA for 27 years, prior to her moving to Harrisonburg in 1980.
She retired from ComSonics, Inc. after many years of service and after retiring, worked part-time for W. A. Hartman Memorials. She later moved to Venice in 2016.
She is survived by one son, Timothy J. Lacey, (Jeannie), of Venice; three grandchildren, Brian Lacey, (Nikki), of Cortez, FL, Clara Davis, (Marcus), of Grottoes, and Christopher Lacey, (Samantha) of Nokomis, FL; four great-grandchildren, Hunter Lacey, Bryson Lacey, Kyree Davis and Keenan Davis; brothers-in law, John Lacey, (Digna), of Sun City, FL and Regis Lacey, (Donna), of Woodbridge, VA; and two cousins, Maurice Burnsworth, of Fairfax, VA, and Vivian Shaffer, (Dick), of Springfield, VA.
She was also preceded in death by her son, Paul Alan Lacey, in 2017 and her sister, Lorraine L. McDonald, in 2000.
Ruth was very fortunate to have many other nephews, nieces and cousins in her life.
She will be cremated and a memorial service will be held on Saturday, September 1, 2018 at 12:00 noon at the chapel of the Lindsey Funeral Home in Harrisonburg with Father Silvio Kaberia officiating. Burial will follow at Rest Haven Memorial Gardens.
The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Rockingham-Harrisonburg S.P.C.A., P. O. Box 413, Harrisonburg, VA 22803, in her memory.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.lindseyharrisonburg.com