Ruth Alice Van Duyn

VAN DUYN Ruth Alice Van Duyn, 95, a longtime resident of the Mandarin community in Jacksonville, was called home to the Lord on March 26, 2008. She was born to Emil and Hermine Wey in Newark, New Jersey on May 22, 1912 and resided in the area until her marriage to Abram H. (Bud) Van Duyn on December 12, 1936. The early years of their marriage were spent traveling throughout the United States and Canada in his position as field auditor with the Prudential Life Insurance Co. In 1942 they settled in Lakeland, Florida and moved to Mandarin in 1949. Ruth was left a widow in 1957, after which she very successfully continued the raising of their four children. Ruth will be remembered as a kind and loving wife, mother and grandmother, eventually becoming the matriarch of five living generations, many of whom continue to reside in the Jacksonville area. She was employed as secretary of the Church of Our Saviour, Episcopal, in Mandarin for thirty years, where she was also a member since 1949 and an active participant in its functions, including the St. Anne's Guild and the bell choir. She was predeceased by her husband and parents, a sister Francis Eleanore (Wey) Crowell and a brother Herman Wey. Survivors include her children William Bayles Van Duyn (Linda), Dr. John Wey Van Duyn (Gwen), Rhelda Ruth (Van Duyn) Losco (Frederick), and Roy Samuel Van Duyn; a sister Gladys Hermine Marie Wey Kopf; grandchildren William Bayles Van Duyn, Jr. (Alison), Yvonne Marie (Van Duyn) Norman (Phillip, Jr.), Brian Winslow Van Duyn (Teri), John Wynn Van Duyn (Aleshia), Samuel Gerret Van Duyn (Tammy), David Jason Van Duyn (Meredith), Joel Richard Hastings and Anna Lynn Hastings-Ure (Dugal); great-grandchildren Jason Michael Van Duyn, Valerie Grace Norman, Emerald Lace Norman, Angel Trace Norman, Kyle Bayles Van Duyn, Ty Winslow Van Duyn, Lilli Chace Norman, Samuel Everett Van Duyn, Cameron Jace Norman, Hannah Noel Van Duyn and Sarah Joy Van Duyn; great-great grandchildren Ethan Michael Richard Van Duyn and Jason Michael Van Duyn, Jr. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday, April 1, 2008, at the Church of Our Saviour, 12236 Mandarin Rd., Mandarin, with Father Mark Atkinson and Father George Young officiating. Interment will follow in Mandarin Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6-8 p.m. Monday at Hardage-Giddens Funeral Home, 11801 San Jose Blvd. Memorial contributions may be made to the Church of Our Savior for distribution to the needy in Ruth's memory. Arrangements made by HARDAGE- GIDDENS Funeral Home. Please Sign the Guestbook @ Jacksonville.com