Ruth Jayne Loveland

She was born on November 24th, 1929 to Frederick Charles Jayne and Lila Mae (Fletcher) Jayne who both predeceased her in 1967 and 1998, respectively. Her beloved husband, Frank, predeceased her 4 days previously on October 13th. She was also predeceased by two sisters; Anna Mae (Jayne) Soper in 1985 and Carolyn (Jayne) Gregory in 1997.

She is survived by 3 sons; Stephen and wife Annie (McCoy) Loveland; David and wife, Valerie (Barnes) Loveland; Ronald and wife, Kim (Morgan) Loveland; 10 grandchildren; Beth (Loveland) Gill and husband, Glen; Josh Loveland and wife, Keyal; Amy (Loveland) Heishman and husband, Dave; Nathan Loveland and wife, Leah; Amanda (Loveland) Ambler and husband, Jeremy; Sofiya (Loveland) Reed and husband, Chase; Chelsea (Loveland) Ivory and husband Kevin; Michael Loveland and wife Elisabeth; Jonathan Loveland and Christopher Loveland and wife Mackenzie; 25 great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.

Ruth grew up in Wilkes-Barre, PA until 1934, when her family moved to Binghamton, NY. She and her sisters attended Sunday School at Fairview Methodist Church. She joined the Girl Scouts and at age 12 earned a free week at camp by selling cookies. Ruth also attended East Junior High School, where she learned to sew in Home Economics class. She attended High School at North High and was a member of the National Honor Society. She graduated in 1948.

Following High School, she worked as a secretary for 6 months at Clark Cleveland Inc., then at the New York Telephone Co. for 5 years. She first met Frank “Stub” Loveland through her cousin, who asked her to write to him when he was in a naval hospital. They began dating when he was on leave and were married on April 8th, 1950, at Fairview Methodist Church, just before he completed college. They attended West Windsor Baptist Church together, then Colesville Baptist Church and it was during that time that Ruth accepted Jesus as her personal Lord and Savior and was Baptized.

They began their married life near Tunnel, NY, on a farm that Frank and his father had purchased together. After 5 years they decided to sell the farm and moved to Bainbridge, NY, then to Rose, NY where Frank took a Farm Manager position.

In 1955, the then family of three, moved to Ithaca, NY, where Frank took a position at the Cornell University Reed Farm. During their 10 years living there, they rented rooms in their house to college students and Ruth worked hard cleaning and cooking their meals. It was while they were living there that Ruth received her first sewing machine and started sewing clothes and doing alterations. She became a very accomplished seamstress, sewing many costumes, coats, suits and various other outfits for her children and grandchildren. She attended church faithfully at Bethel Grove Baptist Church and then Snyder Hill Baptist Church.

The family of five moved to Delhi, NY, in 1967. Frank accepted a position as manager of the Delhi Ag. and Tech. College Farm and they moved into a lovely house that went with the job. Ruth loved the large rooms and fireplaces. While living there, Ruth kept a large vegetable garden and beautiful flower beds. She canned and froze most of the food she raised and gave away the rest. The family attended the Community Church of Delhi and Ruth served by teaching Sunday School and VBS, arranging flowers, hosting missionaries, singing and being a Pioneer Girl “pal”. Ruth and Frank also reupholstered a living room suit. Ruth also worked part-time in the Delhi Tech Finance Office part of the time they lived in Delhi.

In 1983, Frank retired from Delhi Tech and he and Ruth moved to Windsor, NY to wait on a position with The Friends of Israel mission. While living there, Ruth took painting lessons at the local high school. She became very good at painting with acrylics, oils and did the occasional water color. It was something she really enjoyed as well, and many of her family were gifted with her paintings. She also sold some. The job at Friends of Israel opened up in about a year and a half, so Ruth and Frank moved to New Jersey to live on the campus there.

While at the Friends of Israel, Ruth did all of the upkeep of the flower beds, took care of office plants and worked part-time in the office doing data entry. After three years, they decided to fully retire and look for a home to buy in Virginia, to be half-way between their sons and their families.

They bought a house in Woodlawn and with the help of their sons, were able to do many upgrades to the house and property. They also enjoyed taking an Amtrak trip to see sights in the western states and several National Parks. They also took a southern trip to Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana. She and Frank had the privilege and opportunity to take a mission’s trip with a group to Honduras. Ruth thoroughly enjoyed traveling and took many photos. Ruth joined and served at both Friendship Baptist Church and then Victory Way Baptist Church while living in Woodlawn.

Ruth has always been very artistically creative and has done many kinds of projects through the years. She has designed and crafted greeting cards, crocheted and done several counted-cross stitch projects for friends and family.

In 2019 Ruth and Frank were no longer able to take care of their home and moved to Stuarts Draft to live closer to their son, Ron and his family. She attended Valley Baptist Church as long as she was able.

In early 2024, Ruth and Frank have been well taken care of in a private adult care home in Lyndhurst, VA.

Ruth has always been a loving and faithful wife and mother. Thoughts and advice Ruth would like to leave for her sons, grandchildren and great-grandchildren are: Read and follow God’s Word faithfully. Allow the Holy Spirit To lead you. Let your life be a faithful witness of Jesus Christ. Be extremely careful whom you choose to marry. Make sure your intended mate is a believer. Keep Christ first in your life.

Interment will be held on November 1st, 2025 at 10 am at Calvary United Methodist Cemetery, Stuarts Draft, VA.

A memorial service for Ruth and Frank will be held on November 1st at Valley Baptist Church, Stuarts Draft, VA, at 11 am. The service will be live-streamed from valleybaptistchurchva.org. If interested in virtually attending, please email [email protected], 2-3 days before for more instructions.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to Valley Baptist Church for the purchase of Bibles.

Arrangements have been entrusted to the Stuarts Draft Chapel of Reynolds Hamrick Funeral Homes and Crematory.