Ruth (nee Snell) Culbertson died peacefully listening to sounds of birds and surrounded by loving family Sunday afternoon, August 6, 2023. Born October 21, 1925 in Baltimore City, Ruth and her younger sister Eleanor were raised in the First Church of God on Highland Ave, where Ruth met Don and married in 1950. A graduate of Eastern High School with a B.S. in education from Towson State Teachers College in 1948 and Masters equivalency in education in 1989, Ruth taught elementary school and special education for many years. She was 1989 Teacher of the Year at Woodbourne Day School. She lived her faith by creating a life of hospitality with her extended network of friends, cats, and family that included her children Nancy Geesey (Steve), Rev. Terry Culbertson (Mark), David Culbertson (Leslie), and Dawn Culbertson. Grandma Ruth is survived by grandchildren April, Nowa (Jenn), Miriam (Annabeth), Zachary (Mallory), Sam, Jacob, and Joseph and six great-grandchildren – many of whom came to live with her over the course of her 97 years. Despite enduring the significant deaths of daughter Dawn, son David, husband Don, granddaughter Naomi, and daughter in law Leslie, Ruth nurtured resilience and joy by participating in the Baltimore Bird Club, attending concerts at Peabody Institute, completing a bucket list of visits to all 50 U.S. States, swimming at Ocean City or her local pool, and never resisting a dish of ice cream.
Please join family on Thursday, August 10, 2023 at Loch Raven United Methodist Church (6622 Loch Raven Boulevard, Baltimore, Maryland 21239) for a 3:00pm service led by Rev. Wayne Harting and reception to follow. Burial will be at Parkwood Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, please consider continuing her legacy of birding with a donation in Ruth’s name to Maryland Ornithological Society (Baltimore Bird Club chapter) and/or Cromwell Valley Park.
