Ruth Thoden

BOONVILLE - Ruth Jordan Thoden, 89, loving and warm wife and mother, a longtime resident of Boonville NY, and recently of Sunset Nursing Home, passed away on March 11, 2025.

Ruth was born in Cuba, NY, on August 18, 1935, the oldest child of Herbert Wesley Jordan and Thelma Terwilliger Jordan of Friendship, NY. Ruth lived her childhood years in Friendship and graduated with the Friendship Central School Class of 1953. She went on to graduate from Rochester Business Institute as a medical secretary and then accepted a position at Buffalo Children's Hospital. On July 27, 1957, she was united in marriage with her devoted husband, John H. (Jack) Thoden Jr. After living in Norfolk, VA, and Henrietta, NY, they settled on Main Street in Boonville in 1962, where they raised their family.

Ruth was employed by the Boonville Herald, Boonville Area Chamber of Commerce, and many years by the New York Woodsmen's Field Days. She was actively involved in the community as a volunteer with many local organizations, including Girl Scouts of the USA and the New York Forest Owners Association.

Ruth was an avid genealogist from a very young age. She and her mother, Thelma, spent many years traveling together, searching through public archives and searching family homestead sites, and visiting cemeteries to obtain information from headstones. Later, she enjoyed using the internet to continue her research, and she ultimately catalogued thousands of her ancestors into a massive family history going back many generations. She was passionate about history and delighted in connecting with similarly-minded friends and distant relatives online, often helping people from across the country to find their ancestors. Ruth also enjoyed singing, camping, cooking, travel, playing cards, and watching her favorite teams, Syracuse and the Yankees.

Ruth is survived by her husband, John H. (Jack) Thoden Jr., of Boonville, NY; her three children, Terri and her companion Greg of Blossvale, NY, John (Jay) and his companion for life Melody of Port Leyden, NY, and Kathryn (Kate) Thoden of Wasilla, Alaska. She is survived by five grandchildren, Collin Shephard (Jim Seyler), Brynley (Brad) Wilcox, Abriel (Scott) Lantz, John (Kat) Thoden, and Galen Jack Thoden. She has five great-grandchildren, Olyvia and Aiden Wilcox, Fiona Shephard-Seyler, Maverick and Hadlee Thoden. Ruth is also survived by her brother, Charles H. (Chuck) Jordan of Mission Viejo, CA; nephews Brent (Jenny) and Dale (Jenn) Jordan and their families in CA; and sister-in-law, Jeanette Giglio Thoden, Tyngsboro, MA. Many thanks to Ruth's closest friends for their years of friendship, especially Shirley McGough Shelly of Friendship, NY, Jim and Leah Stearns, and Doug and Dolores Zoller.Ruth was predeceased by her parents, Herb and Thelma, her sister-in-law, Marilyn Jordan, brother and sister-in-law, Bob and Phoebe Thoden, brother-in-law, Bill Thoden, and her in-laws, John Henry Thoden Sr. and Martha Odendahl Thoden.

In accordance with her wishes, there will be no service. Interment will be at the convenience of the family, in Maple Grove Cemetery, Friendship, NY.

Donations may be made in her memory for the cure or improvement of life quality for those who live with depression.

Mills Funeral Home, Boonville, is in charge of the arrangements. For an online message of sympathy, please go to www.millsfuneralhomes.com.