Obituary of Ruth J. Lowe

Ruth J. Lowe of 1721 Goodrich Ave, passed away on Friday, May 4, 2012 in the Olean General Hospital, surrounded by her loving family, following a brief illness. Ruth was born on July 21, 1921 in Olean and was a daughter of Howard DeLoss and Lena Johanna Dutton Smith. She married Capt. William E. Johnson from Olean, who was a Fighter pilot, who was killed during WWII in 1944. On October 29, 1946 she married her loving husband of 65 years Glenn C. Lowe, who survives. Ruth was a graduate of Olean High School. She continued her education at Jamestown Community Collage and earned her Bachelor's degree from ST. Bonaventure University. She was an avid reader, belonged to a writing group and had begun to write a book. She was a former member of the Order of the Amaranth and was a past president of the Zonta Club of Olean. In 1985, she retired from the city of Olean as an Executive Secretary to the Civil Service Commission. Ruth was a member of the Olean First Baptist Church for 80 years, having served on the board of trustees, as deaconess and taught Sunday school. She was involved in genealogy research and was the town of Olean Historian from 1992 to 1995. She was an elected councilwoman for the Town of Olean and served from 1998 until 2005. Surviving Ruth, besides her husband Glenn C. Lowe of Olean are four children, Roderick (Sandra) Lowe of Laury's Station, Pa., Vance (Shirley) Lowe of Kennedy, NY, Rebecca (Kimberly) Torry of Bolivar, and Jamie (Paul) Geise of Olean; eleven grandchildren, Debra (Michael) Stoner, Karen (James) Famularo, Krista (Phillip) Kochasic, Joshua Torry, Brieanne (Derrick) Askey, Amber (Heath) Stone, Laura Lowe, Amanda Lowe, Aaron Geise, Summer Geise and Caitlin (Jason) Davenport; twelve great grandchildren; three sisters in law, Magdeline Barron, A. Jeanne Lowe & Donna Skroback; and many nieces & nephews. At her request there will be no public visitation. A private graveside service will be held at Chestnut Hill Cemetery, Portville. The Rev. Millard Cook, associate Pastor of the Olean First Baptist Church officiating. Memorial may be made to the Olean Public Library 132 North Second Street, Olean, New York 14760. Arrangements are under the direction of the Letro-McIntosh-Spink Funeral Home, Inc. #646 E. State Street, Olean. Online condolences may be made by clicking on the button above.