Ruth Gail Deike

Ruth Gail Deike (nee McDuffee) has left the building. She passed away in Nelson County, Virginia on November 5, 2022, one day before her 88th birthday. Known as “Mama Porcupine” to her closest friends, she embodied the hard exterior but soft interior. Her tenacity, stubbornness and chutzpah stood her in good stead to climb the Matterhorn as a young woman, make her way successfully through the male dominated world of Geology and raise two kids on her own. She was under five feet tall but Lord help you if you stood in her way.

Her inner core was composed of incredible creativity, boundless energy and a desire to answer the question “why?”. She constantly commented that she “was always crazy busy”.

Her passion for Geology and teaching led her to create an Earth Science education program upon her retirement from the US Geological Survey. She continued to administer the program right up until her passing.

One of her favorite adages was “Always have three points of support” – a reference to her days caving, sailing and rock climbing. In life, in her wake, she left a trail of Hershey’s Kisses wrappers (she readily admitted to a chocolate “addiction”), downy feathers floating in the breeze (from her trademark, duct tape patched Patagonia vest) and colossal smiles.

She touched thousands of lives, and has given all of them memories of a feisty woman from Long Island who convinced so many to never give up living, learning and caring. Her wisdom, compassion and generosity will be sorely missed by all those who met her.

Ruth’s children, grandchildren and great grandchildren and all who knew her, will hold her spirit in their hearts and keep her memory alive.

There will be no service. Ruth will be laid to rest at Thornrose Cemetery in Staunton, Va. at some point in the future.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Almost Home Pet Adoption Center, 29 Stagebridge Road, Lovingston, VA. 22949

Arrangements entrusted to the Waynesboro Chapel of Reynolds Hamrick Funeral Homes.