Frances Ruth Macintire

Frances Ruth Macintire, 94, of Lewes, known always as Ruth, passed away on Sunday, September 21, after a brief illness. She was born on October 23, 1930, on the Fisher Farm at Oyster Rocks near Milton, DE, the daughter of Charles and Fannie (Smith) Plummer. Ruth had an idyllic childhood there with her beloved younger sister. Later, as a young girl, she and her family lived on and ran a farm in Coolspring. Ruth graduated from Lewes High School in 1948, attended Goldey-Beacom College and worked as a secretary at the Lewes High School for several years. She and James Macintire, a Delaware River Pilot, were married in 1953 and had three sons; she was a homemaker while raising her children and was always active in her community. Ruth served as a director of the Altar Guild and as the first female senior warden at St. Peter's Episcopal Church in Lewes, and also managed St. Peter's annual clothesline art show for many years. She served as a docent and tour guide for the Lewes Historical Society (now Historic Lewes), volunteered at the Lewes Public Library and served on their book selection committee. Ruth was named Lewes Public Library Volunteer of the Year in 2008. Mrs. Macintire was a wonderful cook, well versed in local tradition but also adventurous. She baked delicious yeast rolls, pies and cakes, canned pickles and relish and made homemade ice cream, and was a devoted subscriber to Gourmet Magazine. Ruth believed in making things "out and out" and not cutting corners. She was famed for her family Christmas dinners and was well known for bringing things that she had made to events with family and friends, to new neighbors, and to the bereaved. Ruth was a voracious reader, with a passion for British mysteries and history, and through her reading possessed a wide knowledge of art, history, culture and religion. She enjoyed travel and began traveling widely in middle age with friends and family and sometimes alone, visiting countries throughout Europe and taking cruises to Bermuda and through the Panama Canal. Ruth also greatly enjoyed public television. A true Sussex Countian, Ruth had extensive knowledge of deep family connections and background, representing an enormous loss. She will be hugely missed. In addition to her parents, Ruth was preceded in death by her husband, James F. Macintire, and her sister, Margaret P. Short. She is survived by her son Charles and his wife Susan, of Rehoboth Beach; her son Jeff and his husband Markus Meier, of Washington, DC; her son Bill and his wife Lori of Frankfort, KY; her grandchildren Ben, Elizabeth and Lindsey (Miguel) and their mother Dee; her great-grandson, Henry; her brother-in-law Austin Short Jr.; her nephew Austin Short III, his wife Kelley and their sons Eli and Henry; and numerous, dear family members and friends, especially her bridge club girlfriends. Ruth spent the last years of her life at The Moorings at Lewes (formerly Cadbury) and had many friends there. Her family wishes to thank all those who helped care for her at the end of her life. Visitation for family and friends will be held on Sunday, October 5th from 5 to 7 pm at Parsell Funeral Homes & Crematorium, Atkins-Lodge Chapel, 16961 Kings Highway, Lewes, DE. A Memorial Service will be held on Monday, October 6, 2025, at 11 am at St. Peter's Episcopal Church, 200 2nd Street, Lewes, DE, with a visitation prior to the service beginning at 10:00 am. Interment will follow at St. Peter's Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations in Ruth's memory can be made to the Lewes Library at https://www.mygiving.net/donate/LewesLibrary, St. Peter's Episcopal Church at https://stpeterslewes.org/generosity/online-giving, or the Lewes Historical Society at https://www.historiclewes.org/support/. Please sign the tribute wall located on this website. FLORIST NOTE: PLEASE HAVE ALL FLOWERS DELIVERED ON SATURDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2025 BY 3PM. TO OUR LEWES LOCATION.