Helen Ruth "Ruthie" Cronkhite

NORTH CREEK and FORT EDWARD Helen Ruth "Ruthie" Cronkhite, 61, formerly of Center Street, Fort Edward, died Sunday, June 22, 2008, at the Adirondack Tri-County Nursing Care Center in North Creek. Born on June 23, 1946, in Glens Falls, she was the daughter of the late John and Helen L. (Simmons) Cronkhite. Ruthie was an amazing person. She had Down syndrome and was gifted with a sweet smile, a loving hug and a mind of her own. If you thought you'd got the best of her, she showed you how wrong you were. She loved her soap operas, bingo, especially with her friends Kay and Ellie on Thursday nights at the Adirondack Tri-County Nursing Care Center in North Creek where she resided for the past five years. Our love to the nurses and staff at Adirondack Tri-County Nursing Care Center for such loving care that was given to Ruthie and a special "thank you" to those that are too numerous to mention, but will all hold a special place in her families' hearts. Survivors include her sister, Maryesther Allen and her husband, Hank, of Johnsburg; her two brothers, John Cronkhite of Stony Creek and Donald Cronkhite of Morris; her nieces and nephews, Michele and Michael Cronkhite, Colleen Taft, Doreen Rabine and her husband, Larry, Paul Watson Jr., James MacDonald Cronkhite, Neen Vachon and her husband, Rene, Matthew and Mark Tom Cronkhite; her aunt, Betty Morency of Hudson Falls; her uncles, Dennis Simmons of Fort Edward and Donald "Dutch" Cronkhite and his wife, Louise, of South Glens Falls and many great-nieces and nephews. Friends may call from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday, June 24, 2008, at the M.B. Kilmer Funeral Home, 82 Broadway, Fort Edward. Funeral services will be conducted at 1 p.m. Tuesday, following the calling hours at the funeral home, with Brother James Posluzzney officiating. Burial will follow in Union Cemetery, Fort Edward. Donations may be made in Ruthie's memory to the Down Syndrome Resource Center, 1 Marcus Boulevard, Suite 105, Albany, NY 12205 or to the American Lung Association of NY, 300 Winners Circle, Suite 300, Special Gifts Office, Albany, NY 12205 or to Shriners Hospital for Children, 516 Carew St. Springfield, MA 01104-2396 or to your local food pantry.