Ruth (Stires) Mattis, 91, passed away Saturday, March 10, 2018 at Golden Years Homestead in Fort Wayne. Born in Union Township, New Jersey, Ruth was the daughter of the late Willard and Essie (Sutton) Stires. Ruth was a school bus driver for Fleming Transportation in West Portal, NJ prior to driving school bus for North Hunterdon Regional High School in Annandale, N.J. for 35 years prior to her retirement in 1991. She was a member of South Ridge Community Church, formerly known as Clinton Baptist where she taught Sunday School for many years. While in Fort Wayne she attended Christ Church at Georgetown. She also was a Girl Scout Leader in Pittstown, N.J., being active in their cookie sales and camping outings. She served as president for the Parent Teacher's Association for Franklin Township Elementary School in Quakertown, N.J. and then in North Hunterdon Regional High School in Annandale, N.J. For many years during the summer months she worked as head cook at Camp Brett Endeavor in Flemington, N.J. Ruth spent many hours outdoors gardening, filling bird feeders for the birds she loved to watch and identify. She cherished her family, and loved going to support them at all of their many sporting school events. Surviving are her children, Sharon (Ronald) Long of Fort Wayne, Indiana, Cindy (David) Bird of Erie, Colorado, Willard Mattis of Lacona, New York; grandchildren, Jennifer (Scott Mabee) Heffernan, Stephanie (Jason) Scheele, Jessica Mattis, Brad Mattis, Michael Bird; great-grandchildren, Gavin, Owen, Griffin, Harrison, Emerson; and sister Edna Weeden of Lyncburg, Virginia. Ruth was preceded in death by her husband Harold Mattis; siblings, Helen Shigo, Elizabeth Keggan, and Arnold Stires. Private Family Services. Memorials may be made to the Visiting Nurse Hospice, 5910 Homestead Road Fort Wayne, Indiana 46814.
