Ruth Marie Sweeting was born in Miami, Florida on June 14, 1925. My father moved the family from Harbour Island, British West Indies after determining it would be best for the family. Ruth passed away on January 19, 2019 in Winter Garden, Florida.
Ruth graduated from Miami Jackson Senior High in June 1943. After two weeks, she took all the tests and was hired by Pan American World Airways from who she worked for 32 years and 7 months. She hoped to retired from the Company, but due to internal affairs in the company, most of the work force was laid off in February 1976. Thanks to the efforts of the Teamsters Union, flying privileges and pensions were kept for the employees. Ruth moved to Orlando, Florida hoping for a better place for employment and being close to family that was already in Orlando. After 7 months, Ruth was only working temporary jobs and was not able to provide for her mother. She moved back to Miami and had a job within 2 days. From then until 1985, Ruth worked various temporary jobs and in 1985 she began to work for E. F. Hutton, which later became Smith Barney. She retired from Pan American World Airways in 1980.
During her lifetime, Ruth attended many churches. In her early years, the family attended a Mission which was next door to the family home in Hialeah, Florida. She would also go with her friends and neighbors to a Tabernacle Church and also a Methodist church which were near her school. When her sister Barbara was dating her boyfriend, who would later become her husband, the family ended up going to a little Christian Church called Forest Park, which would later be named Edison Center to be known in the community. In 1959, our Church and property was bought by the State of Florida for the East West Expressway. The officials and ministers decided on property in Miami Shores, which was a nice location. Was had a contractor in our Congregation and he guided the whole building process and we had a large beautiful church. My sister, Frances and I left the church in 1989 due to leadership and minister changes. My sister, Barbara and her family had moved to Orlando in 1969, after her husband and Ruth's mother passed away.
Ruth is survived by her nieces Joyce Marie Mealick and Janice Ruth Tucker and by a nephew, Ronald Albert Fritz. She is also survived by 5 great nieces and by 5 great nephews as well as other great great nieces, nephews and extended family members.
The family will receive friends at Baldwin Fairchild Funeral Home, Winter Garden from 4 - 6 PM on Friday, January 25. Funeral Service will follow at 6 PM in the funeral home chapel. Entombment will follow at a later date at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
