Ruth Eggleton Schmitz

Ruth Eggleton Schmitz

Ruth Eggleton Schmitz of Charlottesville passed away on Saturday, December 5, 2009, at her home, surrounded by her family.

Ruth was born on April 25, 1932, in Worchester, Massachusetts, to the late Douglas Craigmile Ewen and Emily Wight Ewen. She was preceded in death by her husband, Leonard W. Schmitz of Free Union; and her sister, Jean Ewen Snyder of Charlottesville.

Ruth received her Bachelor's Degree in geriatric social work from Goddard College in Goddard, Vermont, in 1977. Shortly thereafter, Ruth moved to Charlottesville, where she headed up the Retired Seniors Volunteer Program from 1979 until 1982. In 1982, Ruth founded Third Age, which was one of the areas first in-home senior healthcare businesses.

Ruth was an avid environmentalist who loved walking; especially in the woods of Free Union, where she and Bill shared their home in Glencoe.

Surviving are three daughters and one son, Emily Bennett and her husband, Bob, of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Jane Eggleton of Charlottesville, Susan Moran and her husband, John, of Weston, Connecticut; a son, Robert W. Eggleton Jr. and his wife, Chantelle, of Wadsworth, Ohio. She also left behind grandchildren, Patrick, Andrew, and Kellen Haley and their father, Dr. E. Clarke Haley Jr. of Charlottesville, Douglas Moran, of Connecticut and Emily and Sam Eggleton of Ohio. She also leaves a stepson, Cameron Scott Schmitz and his wife, Susan, of Wesley Chapel, Florida; and grandchildren, Kayleigh and Ethan; her cousin, Douglas White and his wife, Fran, of Millers, Maryland.

The family will receive friends from 5 until 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, December 8, 2009, at Hill and Wood Funeral Home. Interment will be private.

The family extends heartfelt thanks to the Hospice of Piedmont, the Neurological Unit of the University of Virginia Medical Center and Melissa Howard and family of Buckingham.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of the Piedmont, 675 Peter Jefferson Parkway, Charlottesville, VA 22911 or Lewy Body Dementia Association, 912 Killian Hill Road S.W., Suite #202C Atlanta, GA 30047.


This obituary was originally published in the Daily Progress.