Ruth M. Zweitzig

Ruth was born on April 28, 1943, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to parents Myles Rickert and Leah Rickert (Matz). She graduated salutatorian from Dobbins Vo-Tech High School in 1960 and was active on the school cheerleading squad. She continued her education majoring in Biology at The Kings College in New York. She would always say her highest calling was being a wife to her husband, Pastor Robert Zweitzig, and a mother to her four children, Sue, Pam, Wendy, and Dan. As a pastor’s wife, she faithfully co-labored with her husband for 56 years of ministry, tirelessly participating in God’s work through the church.

Ruth was the quiet, strong, steady heart of her family. She was the consummate homemaker. She was always ready to receive guests at a moment’s notice with gracious hospitality, and she always had a delicious meal ready for whomever might be at her table. She enjoyed baking (allowing her children to lick the beaters and scrape the chocolate chip cookie dough bowl) and sewing, crafting beautiful clothes for her children and suits for her husband. Efficient and organized, she served as both church secretary and typed many research papers during her husband’s graduate studies.

Ruth helped counsel countless women through the years and was instrumental in leading many to a saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. She prayed faithfully for family and friends by name. She was a great student of the Bible and used that knowledge and her loving manner to touch the lives of all who knew her. She lived the virtues known as “the fruit of the Spirit”: love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness and self-control. She had a beautiful soprano voice and enjoyed playing hymns on the piano, both at church and at home. She also enjoyed singing in the 2000-voice Billy Graham Evangelistic Choir at a crusade in Philadelphia. Her favorite hymn was “Great is Thy Faithfulness”.

Her husband Rob said about his wife of 60 years, “I loved her extraordinary inward and outward beauty. Without a doubt, she epitomized the virtuous women described in Proverbs 31 who skillfully ran a home where everyone could depend on her. She was always smiling and had very engaging and gentle laughter. Her love for her Lord Jesus and her family is her greatest legacy!”

Ruth now sees Jesus her Savior face-to-Face and is reunited with her parents, brother Len Rickert and many other loved ones and friends who went before her. Left to grieve here on earth, but not without hope, is the love of her life, her husband of 60 years, Robert Zweitzig, as well as her brother Russell Rickert and her sister Arlene Snyder, her loving daughters Susan (Skitt) and husband Jim, Pamela (Crouch) and husband Eric, Wendy (Watson) and husband Steve, and her loving son Daniel Zweitzig and wife Carrie. While she always wanted 12 children, she is instead survived by 12 beautiful grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren. They were the joy of her life, and they love and miss her more than words can say.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Berean Bible Church, 3330 Byberry Road, Philadelphia, PA 19154, where Ruth and Bob served Jesus, the people of the church and the Northeast Philadelphia community for 43 years.

Relatives and friends are invited to the visitation for Ruth which will be held Thursday, August 1, 2024 from 9:30 AM to 10:30 AM at Lamb Funeral Home, 101 Byberry Road, Huntingdon Valley, Pennsylvania 19006. Followed by the funeral service at 10:30 AM and burial 12:00 PM at Forest Hills Cemetery. The funeral home entrance is at the top of the hill on Byberry Road.