Ruth P. Rausch

Ruth P. Rausch, 84, of Dover died Saturday, Nov. 7, 2015 in the Park Village Health Care Center following an extended illness.

Born Jan.18, 1931 in New Philadelphia she was a daughter of the late Delbert and Emma Rast Rausch. Ruth was also preceded in death by her sister, Carol Jean Whipple and cousins, Ray Rausch and Mary Jane Rausch Henderson.

Ruth graduated from Mineral City High School in 1948, received her Bachelors of Science in Education in 1957 and her Masters of Special Education in 1969. Following her education, she was an Elementary Teacher for 35 years, starting her career at Midvale, Stark County and finally retiring from East Elementary in Dover where she taught for 20 years. She was named Special Education Teacher of the Year at local and state levels for the 1977-1978 school year. Ruth was an active member of St. Paul's United Church of Christ in Mineral City until transferring to St. John's United Church of Christ in Dover. While at Dover, she served on council, was a Lay Assistant to the Pastor, Parish Visitor, Prayer Chain Coordinator, chaired several church and Women's Fellowship committees, taught Sunday school and confirmation classes, was certified as a Lay Minister in the United Church of Christ and served on committees at the Eastern Ohio Association. Ruth was a member of the Alpha Kappa Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma International, an honorary society for women educators, where she held several offices and committee chairmanships. She was a member of the Dover Education Association and a life member of the Tuscarawas County and Ohio Retired Teachers Associations, life member of the Ohio Education and National Education Associations, and also volunteered at Union Hospital and Community Hospice. Ruth served on the Board of Directors for Horizons of Tuscarawas County for a number of years and was secretary of the board for a term.

She is survived by her cousins, JoAnn (Dan) Yourkoski, Julie Rausch, her children, Lynn, Beth and Curt; brother-in-law, James Whipple and other family members and friends.

Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, Nov. 11 at 1:30 p.m. in the Toland-Herzig Funeral Home and Crematory at Dover with Rev. Brian Flood officiating. Interment will be in the Evergreen Burial Park at New Philadelphia. Friends can call at the funeral home one hour prior to the service on Wednesday. Those wishing to express their fondest memories of Ruth may do so by visiting the online obituaries and flowers link on the funeral homes website.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. John's United Church of Christ or to Community Hospice.