Born and raised in Brooklyn, NY, Ruth was the youngest of eight children, born to Julian and Mary. She grew up in a large loving family, guided by the strength of her mother after her father passed away when Ruth was just a young child. Ruth was the last of her siblings, and her passing marks the end of an era.
Ruth was preceded in death by her husband of 46 years, John Robert "Bob" Mitchell, as well as brothers, John, Frank and Stephen, and sisters Emma, Gertrude, Mary, and Theresa. Her remarkable life is celebrated by children Barbara Pfeffer (Robert) and Thomas Mitchell (Mary). She was loving grandmother to Lauren Oehler (Ryan), Kristen Keenaghan (Robert), Cristina Nathan (Michael), Teresa Mitchell, Stephanie Zydor, and Michael Natale (Sierra), as well as many great grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
Ruth met the love of her life, Bob, before he left to serve his country in WWII. They went on to marry and raise their family in Franklin Square, where Ruth was a longtime and active member of the United Presbyterian Church in Garden City. The past 16 years have been spent in Spring Hill/Brooksville, Florida, making new friends and enjoying life.
Ruth was a woman of many interests and talents which included gardening, cooking, quilting, Japanese needlework, and many other creative pursuits. Ruth had a love of traveling and shared many wonderful adventures, both nationally and internationally, with family and close friends. Twice a year, she and her siblings would gather in Las Vegas to share precious time together, despite the distance between them.
Before becoming a respected foreclosure manager, she owned a small market advisory business, where she used charts to identify patterns in market timing. Throughout her professional life, she earned the admiration and respect of those who worked with her.
Above all, Ruth will be remembered for the love she gave her family, her strength, and her ability to find joy in life with her ready smile and positive attitude. She has left a lasting legacy of love that will remain with her family and the many people whose lives she has touched.
Family and friends are invited to gather and pay their respects on Thursday, October 1, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at O.B. Davis Funeral Homes, 2326 Middle Country Road, Centereach, NY. A service celebrating their life and memory will begin at 12:00 p.m.
Following the service, the family will proceed to Calverton National Cemetery, 210 Princeton Boulevard, Calverton, NY, where interment will take place at 1:30 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, the family kindly asks that donations be made in memory of their loved one to Stony Brook Children’s Hospital – Sunrise Fund or the American Diabetes Association. Your generosity and support are deeply appreciated and will serve as a meaningful tribute to a life so dearly loved and remembered.
