MARCH 15 – Ruth F. Stinson, 96, of Farmville, formerly of Buffalo, NY, departed this life on Thursday, February 17, 2011. She was born in Brooklyn, NY September 11, 1914 to Frances Trost and F. W. Gustav (Gus)) Nowka.

Mrs. Stinson moved to Farmville in 1993 after retiring from the New York State West Seneca School for Children, where she had been a faithful staff member for many years. Before losing her eyesight, Ruth loved to crochet, do any kind of crafts and was a talented seamstress.

She is survived by a daughter, Carol R. Cooper Schall and husband, William E. Schall of Farmville; daughter-in-law, Betty Cooper of Florida; seven grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, two nieces and a nephew. She was preceded in death by her parents; her first husband, Kenneth H. Cooper Sr.; her second husband, Herbert B. Stinson; her only brother, Sterling Nowka Sr., and a son, Kenneth H. Cooper Jr.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, March 19, at noon, at the Farmville United Methodist Church, High and Randolph Streets, Farmville. A luncheon will immediately follow the service.

The family will take her ashes to the Forest Lawn Cemetery, Buffalo, NY, to be buried next to her first husband, Kenneth H. Cooper Sr., at a time convenient to the family. The family requests donations be made to the Farmville United Methodist Church (for the roof or window fund) or to the American Foundation for the Blind, 2 Penn Plaza, New York City, NY 10121.