Ruth Mary Drago

A devoted wife to her beloved husband, Anthony (Tony), Ruth lived a life defined by faith, family, friendships and quiet strength that touched all who knew her.

Ruth was born on March 18, 1938, in Saginaw, Michigan, the daughter of Caroline (Warner) and Wilfred Grenville Shannon. Ruth was a proud graduate of Arthur Hill High School. Following graduation, Ruth began working for Second National Bank in Saginaw. In 1958, she met the love of her life and soulmate, Tony Drago. They were married at The Cathedral of Mary of the Assumption in Saginaw, on November 21, 1959, and shared 67 years of marriage rooted in love, faith, mutual support, and devotion to family.

Ruth and Tony began raising their family in Saginaw. Over the years, they also lived in DeWitt, Coldwater and Bath, before returning to DeWitt to build their forever home in 1990. Wherever Ruth lived, worked or volunteered, her energy and passion for life was powerful. Ruth always reflected fondly of her time working at Consumers Power, the Religious Education Office at St. Thomas Aquinas, and the Dewitt Public Library. Then later in life Ruth was able to give back to her community by volunteering at Sparrow Hospital and serving on the Dewitt Community Bike/Walking Path Planning Committee. Every step throughout her life Ruth had a special gift for making people seen, valued and cared for.

Ruth was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She enjoyed reading, cooking, singing, staying active, and she always looked forward to Saturdays to get her hair done and go shopping at Meijer with Tony. Most of all she enjoyed spending her life with Tony and their family. Her home was a place of warmth and welcome, where family gatherings, conversations, and laughter created lifelong memories. She was her family’s steady presence — compassionate and dependable.

Her faith was a guiding force throughout her life, and she was a devoted member of St. Jude Catholic Church, where Ruth could be found most Sundays sharing her love for singing at the 11 am Mass.

Ruth is survived by siblings, Grenville Jerome (Jimmy) Shannon and Judith Ann Fay. Ruth was preceded in death by her parents Caroline (Warner) and Wilfred Grenville Shannon, as well as her brothers Robert Emory Shannon, John Francis Shannon, and sisters Joyce Elaine Shannon and Jean Beverly O’Brien.

She will be lovingly remembered by her husband of 67 years, Tony Drago; her children, Valerie Knowles, Sandra Long, Diane Smith (Martin), Anthony Drago Jr., and Mary Averill (Tim); her 15 grandchildren, Sarah Boomhower, Mark Boomhower (Kim), Anthony Knowles, Sophia Knowles, Antonette Onderlinde (Tucker), Michael Long, Joseph Long, Gaetanina Smith, Garrick Smith, Kayla Drago, Zachery Drago, Eryn Daman, Alec Daman, Michael Averill, and Chloe Averill; and her three great-grandchildren, Drake, Nathan, and Greyson. Her legacy of love, friendship, service, and quiet strength will live on through each of them.

The visitation for Ruth will be held on Thursday, January 29, 2026, between the hours of 3 pm until 7 pm with a Scripture Service followed by memory sharing beginning at 6:30pm at the Gorsline Runciman Funeral Home - DeWitt Chapel, 205 E. Washington Street, DeWitt, MI 48220.

The Funeral Mass will be held on Friday, January 30, 2026, at 11 am at St. Jude Catholic Church, 801 N. Bridge Street, DeWitt, MI 48820, with Father Bob Irish presiding.

Mrs. Drago will lie in state at the church beginning at 10 am until the time of Mass. Interment will follow at DeWitt City Cemetery.