Ruth Welch Walker

Columbiana-January 8, 2009-Ruth Welch Walker, 69, of 53 Village Court, died at 2:00 p.m. Thursday at Salem Community Hospital following a long battle with cancer.

Mrs. Walker was born March 9, 1939 in Philadelphia, PA, a daughter of Lybrand R. and Marion L. Smyser Welch and had lived in Columbiana since 1990 coming from East Palestine.

Ruth was a graduate of Moravian College and did her graduate work at Villanova and Youngstown State University. She was a teacher in the Columbiana School District for many years working with the Gifted and Talented Program.

She was an ordained elder in the Presbyterian church. Her life was devoted to her children, grandchildren, children in church, Girl Scouts and those she taught. Ruth frequently did presentations nationally and internationally for the Gifted and Talented. She was a member of Phi Delta Kappa Gammas and the Alpha Omega Study Club.

Ruth is survived by her daughter, Beth Ann (Flay) Stewart of East Palestine; her son, Barry R. (Lorraine) Walker of Bridgewater, NJ; and four grandchildren, Chelsea, Cody and Michael Stewart and Sarah Walker.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Monday at the Van Dyke-Swaney-Rettig Funeral Home, East Palestine with Pastor Mark McTrustry officiating. Burial will be in Arlington Cemetery, Drexel Hill, PA. Friends may call from 2-4 pm Sunday at the funeral home.

Material tributes may be made to Angels for Animals or the American Cancer Society.