Ruth L. "Lockwood" Booth

Ruth L. Booth

Canisteo

Ruth L. Booth, 93, widow of Claude Booth, of Canisteo, New York, passed away Thursday (September 19, 2013) at her home surrounded by her loving family.

Born on December 28, 1919, in Hornellsville, the daughter of Lyman and Nina Margeson Lockwood, she had resided in the Canisteo area all her married life. She was a graduate of Hornell High School, with a college entrance degree and played the coronet in the Hornell High School band. She was married to Claude W. Booth on January 22, 1938, and was married nearly 67 years before Claude's death in 2004. She worked for St. James Mercy Hospital as a teenager and often slipped into the nursery at the end of her shift to rock the new babies. She was a spot welder at Westinghouse in Bath, NY and was a bookkeeper for various companies. With her husband Claude, she was a drapery and window treatment consultant for both Sherwin Williams and FA De´cor Center. Ruth's last job was a bookkeeper for Booth Enterprises, working until three months ago.

Ruth was a Boy Scout and Girl Scout leader, Neighborhood Chairman for the Girl Scouts and a member of the Home Bureau. She was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Canisteo for 75 years actively serving as a Sunday School teacher, elder, and a member of the Christian Education Committee. She was vice president of the Canisteo Central School PTA, and often hosted Rotary exchange students. Ruth opened her home to any child in need. Her life's motto, as quoted in her yearbook was, "True happiness consists of making others happy."

Ruth loved doing crossword puzzles and took great pride in telling people that she "completed them in ink" right up until her death. She was an active voter and even voted for her grandson last week by absentee ballot.

Surviving are her children, William (Isobel) Booth of Stow, MA; James (Cynthia) Booth of Hornellsville, Joyce Venter of Canisteo, Thomas (Candy) Booth of Canisteo, Valerie (Robert) Nixon of Canisteo, and Lori Booth of Virginia Beach, VA, her brother Raymond (Lucille) Lockwood of Canisteo, her sister Geraldine Shultz of Hornell, 24 grandchildren, 53 great-grandchildren, 5 great-great grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her husband Claude, her son-in-law, Stephen Venter, and her grandson Tony Muffoletto.

Ruth's heart grew with the addition of each new family member especially the babies.

Friends wishing to send a remembrance to the family or to light a candle in Ruth's name please visit www.brownandpowersfuneralhomes.com . The family is being assisted by Gerald R. Brown, Director.

Family and friends were received on Saturday at Brown and Powers Funeral Home in Canisteo with a memorial service following at the First Presbyterian Church of Canisteo. An interment service will be held at 1:00 on Sunday September 22 at Hillside Cemetery in Canisteo. Family and friends are invited to attend.

Friends wishing to remember Ruth are asked to make a donation to the Booth Family Memorial Scholarship c/o Thomas Booth, 2031 Square Woods Drive, Canisteo, NY 14823.