Ruth Mawhinney Gamlen

Ruth Mawhinney Gamlen, of Cumberland, MD, went home to be with her Lord and Saviour on January 3, 2024.
Born February 10, 1927, in Cumberland, she was the daughter of the late Robert Hugh Mawhinney and Frances (Long) Mawhinney Rodgers.
Mrs. Gamlen graduated from Allegany High School in 1944. She attended Catherman's Business School. She was a retired secretary of the Celanese Fibers Company, having worked there for 25 years. She worked at the West Virginia Wesleyan College while her first husband went to school there. She worked a number of years for the Allegany County Commissioners in the Finance Department. Her last place of employment was for the City of Cumberland in the City Clerk's Office.
Ruth was a Charter Member of Cornerstone Baptist Church where she was a member of the choir and worked in the nursery for 20 years. She also helped to organize the Good Samaritans. She was a member of the Christian Women's Club, having helped to organize it, and served as the second Chairman from 1979 till 1983. She attended the First Baptist Church and Peace Lutheran Church in Okeechobee, FL since moving there in 2002. She also had been a member of Parkview United Methodist Church for many years.
Ruth was preceded in death by four husbands, Charles E. Caldwell, who passed away in 1972, Aubrey Chambers, who passed away in 1983, Robert E. Pence, who passed away in 1991, and Lewis Gamlen, who passed away in 2021. She was also preceded in death by her two brothers, Alvin G. Mawhinney and Richard W. Mawhinney; and her nephew, Rodney Mawhinney.
Surviving are five stepdaughters, Mrs. Cheryl Hollingsworth (Gale), of Phoenix, Arizona, Mrs. Joyce Jentes (John), of Ashland, Ohio, Mrs. Susie Schliep (David), of Deptford, NJ, Judy Mauk (Lloyd), of Rock Springs, Georgia, LouAnn Gruetter (Stan), of Calhoun, Georgia; two stepsons, Scott Gamlen (Barbara), of Calhoun, Georgia, and Darren Gamlen (Rita), of Chickamauga, Georgia; son-in-law, Tommy Hawkins, of Rising Fawn, Georgia. She is also survived by a number of step-grandchildren and step-great-grandchildren; a sister, Linda Gonta (Steve), of Greensburg, PA; and a number of very special nieces and nephews, namely Rick Mawhinney, of Cumberland, Donna Smith (Mike), of Ridgeley, WV, Karen Miltenberger (Mark), of Cumberland, David Mawhinney (Barbara), of Ridgeley, WV, Jeff Mawhinney (Daisy), of Gerrardstown, WV, Sheila Abe (Gene), of Flintstone, Connie Longerbean (Ricky), of Harper's Ferry, WV, Brian Mawhinney (Tracy), of Winchester, VA, Roger Caldwell (Sharon), of Charleston, SC; and a number of great-nieces and nephews and great-great-nieces and nephews.
Friends will be received at the Scarpelli Funeral Home, P.A., 108 Virginia Ave, Cumberland, MD on Thursday, January 4, 2024, from 4 P.M. till 6 P.M.
A funeral service will be conducted at the Cornerstone Baptist Church, by Pastor David Hattenfield, on Friday, January 5, 2024, at 11 A.M. with visitation one hour prior to the service. Interment will be in Sunset Memorial Park.
The family requests that memorials be in the form of contributions to the Robert E. Pence Christian Scholarship Fund c/o Allegany County College of Maryland, Cumberland, MD, or The Cornerstone Baptist Church.