Mrs. Ruth Cowden Witter

Fairfield, Va. - Mrs. Ruth Cowden Witter, 92, of Fairfield, Virginia, died Tuesday, July 8, 2008 at her home after a long and full life.

Mrs. Witter was born June 24, 1916 in Dunkirk, a daughter of the late Ida and Levi Cowden of Elm Place, Fredonia.

She graduated from the old Fredonia Normal School and taught kindergarten at Silver Creek Central School where she met and married her principal, the late Ray C. Witter. She later received her Masters in Library Science from Geneseo State College.

She lived most of her life in Western New York with the exception in later years when she resided in Saranac Lake and Fairfield. She was a popular teacher in Alexander, Arcade, Illion, and at several elementary schools in Batavia. She was an avid gardener, a world traveler and excelled in her role as a homemaker.

Ruth Witter’s spirit of commitment to God and family, her spiritual gifts, work ethic and enthusiasm for life are reflected in her progeny to the Glory of God through the Grace and Mercy of Jesus Christ, her Lord.

Her husband, Ray C. Witter died August 4, 1983.

Survivors include one son, Ray Cowden Witter, Rear Adm. Ret. of Edina, Minnesota; two daughters, Helen Witter Robertson of Fairfield, Virginia and Mary Witter Belliveau of Red Hook; twelve grandchildren and fifteen great-grandchildren also survive.