Leta D. Ruth
January 20, 1935 - February 26, 2025
Leta D. Ruth of Newark, Delaware transitioned peacefully and with grace on Wednesday, February 26, 2025.
Born on January 20, 1935, in New Florence, PA, she was the daughter of the late Orville Edwin Sellers and Ruth Anna Shaffer (Sellers) Geyer. Leta graduated from Johnstown Central High School in 1952 and later attended Texas Christian University in Ft. Worth, TX. Upon graduating as a Registered Nurse from Conemaugh Valley Memorial Hospital (CVMH) in 1956, Leta worked as a staff nurse at CVMH and later as a psychiatric nurse at Somerset State Hospital.
Affectionately known in Johnstown as “Aunt Leta,” she was married to “Uncle Herb,” Herbert Ruth (deceased) and lived in Johnstown PA from 1947 until 1985. Leta received a Bachelor of Science in Education from California State University. Upon leaving her tenure as Director of Nursing at Church of the Brethren Home in Scalp Level, she moved to Delaware where she lived until her passing. In Delaware, Leta entered the correctional medical system as a nurse and supervisor at Gander Hill Prison in Wilmington, and later transitioned into clinical research, working on teams with HEM Pharmaceutical Company and Rhône Poulenc-Rorer (Sanofi-Aventis), assisting in the approval of ground-breaking breast cancer drugs, including Taxotere. She also worked for PharmaNet, Inc., until 2003 and later came out of retirement to work as a consultant in medical research until 2009. Her life in clinical research allowed her to travel the world, blessing her with many friends in many places. An avid reader of detective and true crime novels, Leta also loved antiques, theatre, music, cooking and baking.
She was preceded in death by her father, Orville Edwin Sellers; mother, Ruth A. Geyer; brother, Donald O. Sellers; daughter, Amy Leta Ruth; and son, Timothy J. Ruth. She is survived by her son, Joseph Edwin Ruth, Esq of Pilesgrove, NJ; daughter, Susan Ruth Sesack, PhD of Pittsburgh, PA; son-in-law, Brian Sesack also of Pittsburgh; son, Daniel J. Ruth of Los Angeles, CA; grandsons, Timothy Allen Regan of Johnstown, PA and Zachary Austin Ruth of Wilmington, DE; great grandsons, Jacob and Josh Regan of Johnstown, PA; great granddaughter, Kendyl Regan, of Johnstown, PA; great granddaughter, Nola Page Ruth of Wilmington, DE; along with many nieces and nephews of both the Sellers and Ruth families.
A visitation for family and friends will be held from 10 am until 11 am on Monday, March 3, 2025, at Spicer-Mullikin Funeral Home, 121 West Park Place, Newark, DE, where a funeral service will begin at 11 am. Interment will be held privately.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Leta’s memory to First Nations Development Institute, 2432 Main Street, Longmont, CO 80501 or by clicking here.
Jeff Seroskie
It was with profound sadness that I learned of Leta’s passing. Our friendship began exactly 30 years ago when I joined the Taxotere development team at Rhone Poulenc Rorer. Leta was my mentor, teaching me everything I needed to know about the study drug and in doing so, we traveled to many places together from Pittsburgh to Houston to Paris. I fondly remember our visits to Pittsburgh and her insistence of staying at the Holiday Inn so we could dine on her favorite pork chop dish. Our journey in the oncology development field together continued for nearly 10 years at two different organizations when I asked her to join my team at Pharmanet and bring her outstanding oncology focus to further strengthen my growing team. I loved Leta – a gentle soul, fun, intelligent, loving, caring and beautiful on the inside and out. She will be forever missed. Rest in eternal peace my dear friend.💕
Larry Ruth
Joe, Susan, and Dan,
I’m sorry for your loss. I know Leta’s passing is a deeply sad thing, but I hope the memories you have of her rich and full life bring you consolation.
With love,
Larry Ruth
Aunt Margaret's Antique Mall, LLC
On behalf of Aunt Margaret’s Antique Mall, I offer our sincerest condolences to the Ruth family. Leta will always be remembered fondly and we will miss her terribly. She was a very special person. ~ Aunt Margaret
Garrison Burrell
What a wonderful tribute to an impressive life well lived. Sending all of Leta’s Family and Friends our Deepest Condolences, Light and Love.
Garrison, Erik and Mr.Washington
Leanne Gregovich. Johnson
I am so sorry for the loss of your mom. She was a wonderful lady and my mom’s BFF since nurses’s training. I’ve heard so many tales and remember doing much with both Ruth and Leta. Your mom was amazing!
Savor the good memories and use them to ease the heartache.
Ed Belskey
Joe, Susan & Dan, my deepest sympathies and condolences. May she Rest In Peace! 🙏🙏
Alice Fredericks
I was honored and lucky to have Leta in my life. I got to see that she appreciated the opportunities she had and while she worked hard, she made the most of wherever she was. Mostly she was proud of the lives her children and grandchildren
made. I will miss her and was fortunate to know her for 35+ years.
Saul Glosser
Joe,
I was sorry to read about the passing of your Mother in the Tribune today. My thoughts are with you and your family.
Sonya Allen
What a great tribute to such an accomplished lady. You may no longer see her physically, but she’ll always be in your heart and watching over you. Condolences to the Ruth family.
Carol and Rich Wilson
For all family members and friends. We were privileged to have gotten to know Leta from our association with the antique business that we and she were part of. We spoke often about our families and how blessed we were to have the brightest, most talented, and sweetest kids ever! We both were nurses so it was another topic of discussion that we shared. We also got to know Dan who was such a source of pride and joy for her and those of us who knew him. She will be remembered for her kindness, sense of humor, and loving ways. May she rest in eternal peace. Godspeed Leta Ruth.
Judy Newton
So sorry for your loss. Leta was a very special lady. Prayers for you all.
ED AUST (NEPHEW)
WE HERE WHO ARE LEFT BEHIND WILL WITH SADDENED HEARTS ALWAYS REMEMBER A GREAT LADY WITH A LOVING HEART, A CARING COMPASSIONATE SMILE AND BEAUTIFUL VOICE. I SAVED TAPES OF HER SINGING AND WILL LISTED TO THEM OFTEN TO IMAGINE OF HER SINGING IN HEAVEN!!!!
Chuck Aust
My deepest sympathies to Joe, Susie, Danny and all your loved ones who are saddened at the passing of Aunt Leta. And yet, what a full and meaningful life Aunt Leta lived! She touched so many lives in so many loving and caring ways, including mine. The world is a better place because of Aunt Leta. May she rest in God’s care and peace. Chuck Aust, Marietta, GA, nephew, son of Louis and Catherine Aust of Johnstown, PA
Leslye Fusco
Dan, Joe and Susan, I am so sorry to hear of Leta’s passing. She was such a good person. I am glad I got to re connect with her, oddly enough, at the cardiologist office. We both had an an appointment at the same time with the same doctor so when we were done, we went for brunch. What a pleasant time and talk we had that day. I know how you all loved and cared for your mother and she will be missed by many. May she rest in peace and be with Tim again.
My deepest sympathy to you all, Leslye
Cathy Raphael
Dearest Dan & family: My heart goes out to you for the loss of your wonderful mom! We here in Newark will all continue to miss her for many years. He asked me to please not attend the funeral because he was afraid I would get sick with covid or something, and I will comply with his wishes, but I am very sad I will not be there to honor her and support you! [I don’t expect Ben to make it through this week, and it would be tragic if I couldn’t be there for him.] Please know that there is ALWAYS a “mother’s hug” here for you when I see you next! God bless you, our dear boy…. Love you always….
Keri Wormald
What a lovely tribute to a wonderful woman. My love to all of those affected by Leta’s passing–which I know is a large number of people. I had the pleasure of knowing Leta through her son Dan, my best friend and business partner for many years in Richmond, VA.
Leta and I exchanged Christmas letters for more than 20 years (30?), and I will miss those updates. She had a zest for adventure and a fierce love for her family; she will be sorely missed. But the world is a better place because she passed through this realm. Professionally and personally, she made her mark.
Barbara Aust Kenefake
Dear Joe, Susan and Dan,
My condolences to you on the loss of your dear Mother. Aunt Leta accomplished much in her lifetime helping others and the world is a better place because she lived. I’ll always remember the time she treated me because of an injury and made me feel so much better. She was a caring and loving woman with so many talents. She will be missed. May she rest in peace. Barbara Aust Kenefake
Michael and Christine Marenco
To the Ruth Family, wo offer our condolences to all family and friends of Leta. Knowing her was a pleasure.
Holly
I am sure going to miss Leta. I was always able to get a laugh out of her and she had the gift of always telling me a really great story. Sometimes they were about her nursing career, travelling, baking, or the books she read and often about her family. She was so proud of her family and shared pictures of her grandchildren and great grandchildren. I’m thankful for the time that she spent sharing her memories with me. ❤️
sandra thinnes
Leta was a wonderful woman our daughter was her next door neighbor they had many good times. Leta really had a wonderful work background did many great jobs in her lifetime. Had a great family and many friends she will be missed.