Ruth Matilda "Ruth" Wratchford

Ruth Matilda Wratchford, 93, formerly of Wardensville, West Virginia and Great Falls, Virginia, passed away peacefully with family by her side after a brief illness at her home in Leesburg, Virginia on Friday, December 29, 2023. Better known as Maw Maw to her grandchildren, great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews, she was known as Ruth or Till to her friends.

Ruth was born on August 15, 1930, in Fairfax County to the late Ivan Joseph Money and Elsie Elizabeth Williams Money. She grew up in Great Falls on her family's farm, The M&M Riding Ranch as the middle child of three. She later built a home with her first husband on land that was part of the original family property, where she raised their three children while working and later retiring from Giant Foods. She later remarried and moved with her second husband to Wardensville in 1978, where she pursued several passions, including gardening, sewing, cooking and her grandchildren. Her grandchildren loved visiting Maw Maw on the mountain in WV during school breaks and she cherished her time with them. Ruth moved to Leesburg after her second husband passed away in 2013 to be closer to family and embark on her ultimate adventure, living alone for the first time in her life. She spent her later years in Leesburg enjoying keeping up with family and friends and walking and tending to her beloved dog Jake prior to his passing.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her second husband, Donald V Wratchford, her first husband, John S McCarty, her brother, Ivan J (Joe) Money Jr., her sister, Gladys (Susie) K Money Hernholm, her son-in-law, Robert H. McNiel Sr. and her beloved granddaughter, Nicole Marie McCarty. Ruth is survived by her three children, Jill Sherlene McNiel, John Michael McCarty (Lori) and Richard Brady McCarty (Kathy), as well as four grandchildren, Robert H. McNiel Jr. (Michelle), Daniel A. McNiel (Amy), Jessica C. McCarty and Emily M. McCarty and four great grandchildren, Clay B McNiel (Madyson), Wyatt McNiel, Brooklynn McNiel and Adalynn McNiel and many nephews, nieces, and their children.

Ruth / Maw Maw may best be remembered by her friends and family as a feisty, true West Virginia lady who never lost sight of her humble roots and the value of family. The family requests that those wishing to remember Ruth do so with a contribution to a charity or organization of their choice.