Ruth A Mathena

Ruth was born on March 22, 1943, in Brockton, Massachusetts to Gladys (Bessett) Balboni and Hubert Balboni. Ruth attended Ocala High School – class of 1961. She later completed several college courses in business management.

In her younger years, Ruth enjoyed riding horses, going to the beach, reading, and spending time with her friends. She met the love of her life, Jack, in 1961 and they were married in 1962. They gave birth to their beautiful daughter, Debbie, in 1963. Ruth was crafty and was talented in crochet and cross-stitch. She enjoyed doing puzzles, playing board games, watching movies, and spending time with her family. Her favorite movies included Little Women, Fried Green Tomatoes, and the original Disney movie the Parent Trap. She and her daughter Debbie shared a passion for reading Debbie Macomber books and often exchanged books between them. Ruth worked for many years as an office manager and retired from Sonoco Products Company in the late 1980s. After retirement, her summers were filled with adventures with her two granddaughters, often including library trips, shopping, and day trips to Wild Waters and Silver Springs.

She is survived by her beloved husband of 64 years, Jack B. Mathena; brothers Hubert Balboni and Michael (Debbie) Balboni; brother-in-law, Lynn (Kim) Mathena; son-in-law, Ronald J. Linkous; two granddaughters Casey (Wayne) Nichols and Brittany (Adam) Nitsch; and two great-grandchildren Brayden Nichols and Madelyn Nichols. She is preceded in death by her parents Hubert and Gladys Balboni; her beautiful daughter, Debbie; sister-in-law, Patricia Balboni; and brother-in-law, Jay Mathena.

A visitation and Celebration of Life will be held Friday, March 20, 2026, from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM at Forest Lawn Funeral Home located at 5740 S. Pine Avenue, Ocala, Florida, 34480.

In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting to honor Ruth with memorial donations to American Cancer Society, St. Jude Research Hospital, or the Wounded Warrior Project.

Arrangements entrusted to Forest Lawn Funeral Home, Ocala, Florida. Fond memories and words of comfort may be made at ForestLawnOcala.com for the Mathena Family.