Ruth A. Shawl, 79, of 4430 Route 275, Friendship, passed away Friday, May 31, 2024 at Olean General Hospital after a brief illness.
Born on June 2, 1944, in Wellsville, she was a daughter of Kenneth W. and Gladys M. Lobdell Water. On June 30, 1962, in Andover she married Raymond G. “Ted” Shawl who predeceased her on February 19, 2019.
She was a graduate of Andover Central School. While her children were young, she worked in the cafeteria at Friendship Central School. In 1978, she went to work at Cuba Memorial Hospital working in the Operating Room, Radiology Department, at one time was the Activities Director and finished her 40-year career in the Medical Records Department.
Ruth attended the Friendship United Methodist Church and was a member of McKee Tristar Chapter 242 Order of the Eastern Star. She loved shopping, baking, cooking and gardening both flowers and vegetables. She was able to start a conversation with anyone she met and always enjoyed sharing stories with them. Ruth attended her children’s sporting events, concerts and activities, and made it a point to continue that same tradition with her grandchildren and great grandchildren. She was also a special caregiver to her son in law John and always kept a strong connection with her nieces and nephews and their families.
She leaves behind a son, Michael (Ellen) Shawl of Friendship; a daughter, Heidi (John) Pockey of Black Creek; 3 grandchildren, Anthony (Erin) Shawl, Kaite Shawl-Morris, and Thomas Galatio; 4 great grandchildren, Austyn, Tanner, Bailey, and Eileigh; two sister in laws, Alice (Harry) Hurd of Cuba and Sandy Shawl of Cuba; and several nieces and nephews.
In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by a brother Carl Waters, and two sisters Betty and Jean.
Friends may call at the Mark F. Rinker Funeral Home & Memorial Service, Inc., 9 Bull Street, Cuba, on Tuesday, June 4, 2024 from 6-9 P.M. Funeral Services will be held on Wednesday, June 5, 2024 at 10:00 A.M. in the funeral home. The Rev. Marc Chamberlain will officiate.
Burial will be in Maple Grove Cemetery, Friendship, New York.
Members of McKee Tri-Star Chapter 242 O.E.S. will conduct services in the funeral home Tuesday evening at 8:00 P.M.
Memorials may be made to the SPCA Serving Allegany County or to the Hart Comfort House of Allegany County.
