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Ruth Anderson Obituary
Age: 87 • Waynesboro, VA
Ruth Ann VanCleve Anderson, 87, of Waynesboro, Virginia passed away peacefully at home surrounded by her family on Monday, November 20th, 2017.
She was born on February 11th, 1930, in Savannah, Georgia, to John Henry and Faye Ray VanCleve. She graduated from high school at Berea College in Kentucky, and was a nursing student at Louisville General Hospital, where she met her husband, Dr. John Powell Anderson. She was preceded in death by her parents, her brother Roy Ray VanCleve, and her son Glenn Powell Anderson.
Ruth spent her life as a shining example of generosity and family. She was profoundly loved and respected by her husband, children, friends, and many others in the community. She cared continually for a busy household with six children and other family members while serving as the backbone of her husband's successful family medicine practice for many years. She was a wellspring of grace, strength, and love to all who knew her.
She was a devout member of Saint John's Episcopal Church. Her life and community contributions were recently honored when the Waynesboro Area Refuge Ministry (WARM) dedicated their shelter to her and named it The Ruth VanCleve Anderson WARM House for Women & Children.
A celebration of life will be held Friday, November 24 at 2:00 pm at St. John's Episcopal Church in Waynesboro, officiated by the Reverend Anthony Andres.
She is survived by her husband of 68 years, John Powell Anderson, and a large and loving family including Donald and Carol, Stephen, Gregory and Susan, Kathy, Van, and Rodney and Linda, and their families; ten grandchildren (Kathryn and Shawn, Anna and Brett, Elizabeth and Jason, Lizzie and Ed, Jenny and Niti, Rachel and Matt, Matthew and Kelly, Lauren and Braden, Christopher, Jonathan) and eight great-grandchildren (Nev, Kate, Drew, Sam, Ari, Olivia, Atlas, Lyla). She is also survived by her sister-in-law Winnie and her husband Dess and a number of beloved nieces and nephews.
Donations can be made in memory and honor of Ruth at St. John's Episcopal Church, 473 S. Wayne Ave, P.O. Box 945, Waynesboro, VA 22980, or to WARM House Waynesboro, 1035 Fairfax Ave, Waynesboro, VA 22980.
McDow Funeral Home is assisting the family.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Ruth Anderson
3 Entries
Pat Robinson
November 24, 2017
I will always remember the shared lunches with you and your hubby as well as your family stories and shared experiences. Always an accepting and giving person, you will be sorely missed.
Debra Freeman-Belle (Burns)
November 22, 2017
Thank you for your love, your words of wisdom, your listening ear, your firm truth, you reeling me & Dr. Anderson in when we get ahead of ourselves, your kindness, your hugs, your example, your stories, your laugh, your amazing baked goodies, reminding me to care for myself and eat during the day, your generosity, your honesty, your faithfulness, your integrity, your pats on the back, and your accepting me, my kids, and New husband with open arms. I am better for knowing you. I am thankful for 4 years of getting to know the woman you were. I pray that I will one day be half of who you chose to be everyday of your life. Rest in Love Mi Mi Ruth. I promise to do everything I can to make sure that every women that my life touches knows that a remarkable woman (& her husband) wouldn't let me give up & because of you, they have a chance to be somewhere safe with somebody good just as you wanted. I will forever miss you.
Kitty Hall
November 22, 2017
So sorry for your loss. I met Ruth only one time at St. John's Episcopal Church and she was very warm and gracious to me.
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