Ruth Sawyer
Feb. 24, 1932 - May 30, 2103
Ruth Sawyer
Feb. 24, 1932 - May 30, 2103
Obituary
Guest Book
BORN
Feb. 24, 1932
DIED
May 30, 2103
Ruth Sawyer Obituary
Ruth Dennis Sawyer, 81, passed away Thursday, May 30, 2013.
She was born Feb. 24, 1932.
Beloved wife of John Sawyer for 60 years. Loving mother of Anne (Rex) Wetherill, Elizabeth (Blake) Selnick, Catherine Sawyer, and Mary (Bobby) Stephens. Devoted grandmother of John (Holly) Putnam, Meredith (Mark) St. Amour, Daniel Wetherill, Matthew Wetherill, Will Selnick, Anna Selnick, Nicholas Ryall, Christina Ryall, Jonathan Ryall, Patrick Ryall, Robert Stephens, Charles Stephens, and Sarah Stephens. Adored great-grandmother of Aiden Putnam.
Ruth was an avid gardener and touched thousands of lives supporting the church, the arts and her passion for Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati.
She was an incredibly talented artist. There wasn't anything she wasn't good at or anything she wouldn't try.
She will be dearly missed.
Visitation will be held from 4-8 p.m. Monday, June 10, at the Gwen Mooney Funeral Home - Spring Grove Chapel, 4389 Spring Grove Ave., Cincinnati; (513) 853-1035, 1-888-853-2230. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, June 11, 2013, at the Norman Chapel at Spring Grove Cemetery. Interment will be at Spring Grove Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be given to Alpha One and the Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati.
Sympathy may be expressed at www.springgrove.org.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
fred winchester
May 27, 2022
I miss Ruth. Her and her family were very good neighbors and friends. The Sawyer help so many people in London. I was so glad I knew them.
Fred Winchester
May 27, 2019
Ruth was a wonderful woman, friend and neighbor. Living just down the street from the Sawyer family an honor. If you needed anything, she would help you. She raised the best kids which I was lucky to have Ann in my class. Ruth and her husband John did so much for London, and the London High School. She didn't even get mad when we T.P. their house. She had a great smile that made you feel good. I miss you Mrs. Ruth Sawyer. You'll never be forgotten.
Scott Trammell
June 28, 2013
My condolences to the family. It is saddening to learn of the loss of this truly lovely lady.
Lori Taylor-Schulte
June 23, 2013
I met Ruth for the first time in 1990 when I was the House Manager down at the Ensemble Theater. One incident in particular stuck with me. Ruth was working on a set where she used some type of construction foam. She refused to wear gloves while doing it, and it got stuck to her hands and wouldn't come off. She spent days picking, pulling and tugging. She had a formal event she had to go to and when I asked her what she was going to do...she smile and said..."Oh, I'll just wear a pair of gloves all night, and no one will ever know the difference!" I loved how well she loved her family and friends, and the legacy she has left to the arts....through all the lives she and John have touched over the years. :) The ripple effect of Ruth's life will be felt for generations to come and that makes me smile! :) John....how lucky were you to have been loved and adored by such an amazing woman!
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With most affectionate memories from Dale
Dale Harvey
June 16, 2013
Dear Ruth Sawyer with support from John gave me the opportunity to become their Gardener for their Indian Hill, Ohio estate (April 1975-October 1976).
Ruth's caring,kindness,keen support plus genuine and passionate interest in gardening help us create very special gardens that resembled a small botanical garden complete with large vegetable gardens.
Ruth graciously opened their home to me and with John's support provided everything that was needed to produce the best gardens possible. They were the most caring, considerate and finest employers that I have ever known.
With their encouragement and support, the gardens produced on their property were largely responsible for my future success in all gardening and horticulture projects around the world.
Today I hold the honored title of 'Garden Guru of New Zealand'.
All of you can see what Ruth and John did for me by visiting: www.daleharvey.com
I thank the Sawyers for their great contribution to earning this position.
I will always remain in gratitude for the kindness and great opportunities offered by the Sawyers.
P.S. While it has been far too many years since we last were together, I write this today (June 17, 2013)because Dear Ruth came to me most affectionately and vividly in a wonderful dream last night.
So the first thing this morning I researched her name on the Internet and discovered that Ruth had passsed over. Last night Ruth came to say 'Good-Bye'.
Truly she has risen and looked so beautiful and radiant as I always remembered her to be.
It was a great honor to have known Ruth and John. They uplifted my life.
May they be Eternally Blessed for what they did.
Ben Flesher
June 11, 2013
I'm sorry for your loss and if you need anything just let us know.
Greg Procaccino
June 9, 2013
I will always remember her constant and energetic support of all the things we did at ETC.That spirit will be missed.She will be missed.
Kim Cain
June 7, 2013
Catherine (Carey) sorry to hear this, I will keep you & your family in my prayers!
Annie Fitzpatrick
June 7, 2013
She was an amazing lady and will be greatly missed.
Suann Pollock
June 7, 2013
I think that everyone who knew Ruth felt touched by her. Her love of the arts and enthusiasm for everyone in the arts made us all feel closer together. She will be missed but her spirit will stay with us – each and everyone.
Ted Florence
June 6, 2013
We pray for the safe passage and safe harbor of Ruth's spirit.
--Ted Florence in South Charleston
FRED WINCHESTER
June 6, 2013
Ruth was a very wonder woman, she did so much for London and will be dearly missed. My prayers go out to her family.
June 5, 2013
Love and prayers to you all.
What an amazing inspirations your mom gave to us all...of all things she taught I have remember "adventure" the most this past week...we explored "everything" and in so many ways. I feel so wonderfully blessed to have visited just a month ago...what a gift - that laughter will live in my heart forever. love you all.
Lynn Dillion Gyurcsik
June 5, 2013
to John, Anne, Rex, Elizabeth, Blake, Catherine, Mary, Bobby and all the wonderful children of you all - my love and prayers...think of you daily...it truly is the relationships of life that continue to teach us, bridge us and love us...love you all this night and always
Lynn Dillion Gyurcsik
Rebecca Jenkinson-Dusek
June 5, 2013
It's always too soon to lose someone you love. Thanks to Ruth and John for what they contributed to London, Ohio. Including restoring the house on Main Street.
Rebecca Jenkinson Dusek
Richard and Mona Flax
June 4, 2013
Dear John,
Richard and I are certainly thinking of you. Ruth was such a talented, lovely person and we so enjoyed our visits with the two of you. We can only imagine how much you will miss her in the days to come. God bless you and your family.
Warm Regards, Mona and Richard
Roxanne Alderson
June 4, 2013
Such a warm, lovely,funny,creative lady. She was wonderful to me. You have my deepest sympathy
Beth Brohard Pennell
June 4, 2013
So many wonderful memories of the Sawyer family.The inspiration they had in my life as I was growing up,I remember the sadness I had when they moved away.I have always thought of all of you often.May you all be strong and god is with all of you.My prayers are with you all.I love you all.
Diane Pickens
June 4, 2013
Thoughts and Prayers are with you all! Miss you Anne and know that your mother will always be with you!
Ruth Slaughter
June 3, 2013
I knew Ruth for many years in London, Ohio...she was a lovely person.
Nancy and Bill Robinson
June 3, 2013
A wonderful and talented lady who enriched the lives of all her knew her. She created a memory book for our family that will always remain a treasure.
sharon grubbs
June 3, 2013
The Grubbs family have been lucky enough to have had a very
loving relationship with the John Sawyer family through out our lives. Ruth, John and all four of their daughters and their families have enriched the lives of my mother Ellie,my brother Scott and me.
As I was telling my mom about Ruth's passing, I envisioned Ruth, my Dad Bill, Father Tom and other loved ones
in heaven gearing up for a Bengal's game!
I cannot express the love and admiration the Grubbs family had for Ruth and her Family.
Cindy Myers McCann
June 3, 2013
God Bless the Sawyer Families~ Your in my thoughts & Prayers!
RIP Sweet Ruthie~
Cindy Myers McCann
June 3, 2013
My sympathy to the entire Sawyer Family & especially Annie, my friend.Your Mom was loved by all that met her,may she rest in peace.God Bless~
Dixie (Brookman) Jones
June 3, 2013
I will always remember all the wonderful times we had doing the London PTA plays with Joyce. Such fond memories of you and John and the rest of the gang.
Dale Iles
June 3, 2013
Such a wonderful lady who's family played such an important part of my childhood in the 60's as I worked with my dad during summer breaks cutting the grass at the house in the country, the office on Rt 29, the Big House and the home in town. Mom and I send our prayers to John, the girls and family members. She will be missed by many but she touched us all.
June 3, 2013
When I first got involved in Community Theatre around 1985, Forrest Fairley? got me involved in a group called the Village Stage of Indian Hill, and they performed at Livingston Lodge (LL) on Given Road. Ruth was the Set Designer and painter, and this little sprite of a woman, 5' nothing, if that. LL had no lights, no provision for them and a homemade lighting board of 600 watt dimmers - lights had to be literally lag-bolted into a wooden beam that was ~20 feet from a minuscule stage. I swear that Ruth's painting pants could have stood up on their own due to the layers of paint affixed from her wiping brushes on them. Did not know her last name. One day, during tech week for "The Nerd" she asked me if I would be interested in coming her to help get this "small little theatre group a few of her friends were starting up downtown" - they could use a talented LD. At the time I was lighting shows for Loveland Stage Company, Mariemont Players, East Side Players, and East Fork Players, AND still consulting at Purcell HS, so I politely said "no". Forrest pummeled me with "Do you know who she is? That is Ruth Sawyer." "So", says I. "So , she is John Sawyer's wife!" "So?" "So, they own the Bengals!" "Forrest, I just do not have time."
Meanwhile a student I had directed, who became one of my assistant directors at Purcell, Joe McDonough, was having a play produced "American Gothic" in Memorial Hall, and would I come see it?
I walk into the performance space, and there stands Ruth Sawyer, wanting to know what I am doing there. I explain the connection, and she proudly proclaims "Welcome to the Ensemble Theatre!!" and introduced me to Murph Mahler, forgetting that I met Murph at VP of IH. I could have been Brian Mehring (well, no one could have been Brian...but you get the gist).
Rest well, Ruth, you deserve it.
Stuart Wheaton
June 3, 2013
Ruth literally changed my life. I was on a path to probably be a bored and unhappy Biologist, Then I met Ruth. I have been making theatrical art since then, and I have never regretted it. Everything Ruth did, she did with a level of style and class that I hope and pray I can achieve in my life. Thank you for everything you did for me, and for this city. And Bless John and her family for for sharing her with all of us. You are all in my thoughts.
Misty Vest-Koeth
June 3, 2013
Such a lovely lady. She graced London with her presence for many years. I will always have a special place in my heart for her, and Mr. Sawyer...they know the reason...may she rest in peace, I don't believe that a better person has ever walked this earth. My thoughts and prayers go out to her family and loved ones.
Michael Haney
June 3, 2013
Ruth is irreplaceable. A beautiful human being who loved the Ensemble Theatre and the people who worked there. Her courage and smile inspired and continues to inspire us all. Her spirit still abides.
Cindy Dillion-Andrews
June 3, 2013
My thoughts are with you all.
Kathy Phillips Jordan
June 3, 2013
One amazing lady! I was so very blessed to have had her in my life as "my 2nd Mother." We always had a special greeting for each other each time we met. I'd say, "Hi Beautiful." and she'd reply, "Hi Gorgeous." I will miss her beautiful smile, warm, caring spirit, laughter and talent! RIP dear Mrs. Sawyer, until we meet again!
Vicki Alexander Friesland
June 3, 2013
I loved this woman who was my second mom...she welcomed me (and so many more) into her and John's home and life. My parents use to say they should pay them child support because I basically lived with them in the summer on their farm with my BFF Elizabeth!! Ruth was an inspiration about living life to the fullest and i will miss her!
Kristina Bridgman Hensley
June 2, 2013
Ruth really lived a life. She will always be an inspiration.
June 2, 2013
Ruth was special; one of a kind. I am saddened by her death and will miss her. Susan Prasciunas, Tucson, Az.
Prayers and condolences to the Sawyer Family.
Leslie Whitney
June 2, 2013
Tom Morris
June 2, 2013
GREAT LADY !!!
Tara Murdock
June 2, 2013
Sweet Ruthie...so grateful I was one of the lucky ones to have known you, your light will always shine in so many if us!!
Denise Knue
June 2, 2013
I got to meet Ruth just a couple of times. What a very nice lady. My thoughts and prayers are with the entire family.
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