Ruth Starkweather Camp 96, passed away Friday, April 10, 2015. When she was 14 years old, Ruth heard the Good News of the Gospel at a small church in Niles, and received Christ as her Lord and Savior. Her family rejoices that she is now in Heaven, where she longed to be for many years and has now received a wonderful welcome home from her heavenly Father.
Ruth was born July 3, 1918, in Cleveland, to G.C. and Bertha Starkweather.
She was preceded in death by her husband, John Camp; and her sons, Bob (age, 21) and Norm (age, 62).
Ruth was a graduate of Kenmore, NY High School, Youngstown Business College and studied briefly at Wheaton College in Wheaton, Ill. She was also a violinist in the Youngstown Symphony Orchestra.
She met her “Johnny” in Niles, early in 1941, and they were married October 25th of that year. They resided in Fort Wayne, Ind., for several years and moved to Wheaton, Ill. in 1952, where John had an advertising/broadcasting agency. Following John’s death in 1972, Ruth stayed in Wheaton until 1996, when she moved to Chagrin Falls to live with her daughter and son-in-law, Judie and John Linstra. In April of 2012, she moved to Holly Hill in Newbury, where she was wonderfully cared for until her death.
Ruth leaves behind three of her children, Judie (John) Linstra, Elaine (Ron) McReynolds and Steve (Cindy) Camp; 13 grandchildren (many of whom called her “Ruthie”); 27 great-grandchildren; sister, Marjorie Reeder; and her sister-in-law, Beulah Starkweather.
The hallmark of Ruth’s life was her love for God and His Word, which she spent a lifetime studying and sharing with others. Early in her widowhood, a godly counselor recognized how she was gifted and encouraged her to teach other young women the truths that had characterized her life … and so she did, calling this “building a friendship.” Many young women would come and sit one by one at her kitchen table. They would share life with one another, studying the Bible, learning life lessons from a very wise older woman, walk the streets of Wheaton, make meals together and essentially do “life” together. Such beautiful times were a portrait of her rich life in Wheaton, which transferred over time to young women in the Chagrin Falls area.
Ruth left a living legacy in the hearts of everyone she came in contact with and continued to do so throughout her years at Holly Hill.
A celebration of Ruth’s life will take place 10 a.m. Friday, April 24, at Parkside Church, 7100 Pettibone Road, Chagrin Falls, OH 44023.
In lieu of flowers, donations made to Truth for Life, P. O. Box 398000, Cleveland, OH 44139 or online at www.truthforlife.org/donate would greatly honor her.
Arrangements are entrusted to McMahon-Coyne-Vitantonio Funeral Homes in Willoughby and Mentor.
To leave condolences for the family, order flowers or light a memorial candle, visit www.MCVfuneralhomes.com.

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