Ruth D. Whittaker

She was born Ruth Ann Duncan on October 10, 1924 in Johnstown, PA, to Roy and Irene Duncan. She was their only surviving child. She and her parents lived in a number of places in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Indiana during the Depression while her parents looked for work, and they finally settled in Indianapolis at the beginning of World War II. Ruth Ann (as she was then known) graduated from Thomas Carr Howe High School in 1942, and later from Butler University in 1946 with a major in Home Economics and Tailoring. She was a member of the Delta Delta Delta Sorority. Ruth had a beautiful soprano singing voice and performed at many weddings, theatricals, and social events during these years. After college, she worked for Indianapolis’s flagship department store, L.S. Ayres, as an assistant buyer. In 1950, she married Robert J. Whittaker of Boston, MA. A veteran of World War II, he served in the US Navy in the South Pacific. After the war he became an executive with the Employers’ Group Insurance Company, later acquired by the Commercial Union Assurance Company. Ruth and Bob eventually had 3 daughters and settled in Valley Forge, PA.

Ruth was an avid and accomplished needlecraft woman all her life, first making clothes for herself and her daughters, and later expanding to quilting and crafts of all kinds. She was a member both of the Valley Forge Quilters and Mainline Quilters. For many years she worked part-time for the Sinkler Needlepoint Studio in Bryn Mawr and later for Edie & Ginger’s Studio in Wayne as a needlepoint assembler, turning items other people needlepointed into purses, eyeglass cases, bell pulls, pillows, and the like, work she thoroughly enjoyed. She was also a volunteer with the Mainline Meals on Wheels program as a delivery driver for many years.

A voracious reader, Ruth devoured all kinds of books—English mysteries and biographies, among her favorites. She was also an enthusiastic game player until the end. Whenever anyone asked, “Who wants to play Boggle?” Ruth’s hand was always the first one raised.

After the death of her husband in 1992, Ruth remained in her home in Wayne (Valley Forge) until 2008, when she moved to Garden Spot Village in New Holland, PA.

Ruth was a devoted and loving wife and mother. She is survived by daughter Jane Whittaker and her husband Michael X Delli Carpini; daughter Susan Whittaker; daughter Ann Ciabattoni and her husband Enrico, and Ruth’s only granddaughter, Gemma Ciabattoni; and by longtime friends and neighbors Peter and Bernadette Heaton.

At Ruth’s request, no viewing or funeral service is planned. Interment will be in the cemetery of the Baptist Church in the Great Valley, Devon, PA. A memorial service will be held on Friday, September 23 at 10:30am at Garden Spot Village, New Holland, PA. The family asks that in lieu of flowers or mass cards, memorial donations be made either to the Garden Spot Village Benevolent Fund, 433 South Kinzer Avenue, New Holland, PA 17557 OR to Hospice & Community Care, 685 Good Drive, P.O. Box 4125, Lancaster, PA 17604-4125.