Ruth Pfeiffer

Ruth Pfeiffer, 101, died Tuesday, January 31, 2006 at the Country Club Center in Dover.

Ruth was born on April 11, 1904 in Newark, Ohio and was the daughter of the late Maurice and Minnie Secrist Peter.

Most of her youth was spent in Gnadenhutten, which is the community many of her ancestors had helped settle. She was a lifelong member of the Gnadenhutten Moravian Church, which her ancestors also helped found. At an early age, Ruth began to play both piano and organ in her church. She graduated from the Gnadenhutten High School, attended Muskingum College and the Normal School for Teachers in New Philadelphia. She was an elementary school teacher before she married her husband, Carl Pfeiffer in 1926. After she married Carl, she resided in Dover for the remainder of her life. She became an active member of the Dover Moravian Church where she became a substitute organist for many years, pianist, senior choir member, and the director of the Jr. Choir for a number of years.

She began teaching piano during the early 1930�(TM)s and continued until 1988 always being keenly and personally interested in her pupils. She was a former member of the Fortnightly Music Club and former advisor for the Jr. Fortnightly Music Club. She believed strongly in the opportunity for youth performance and building a lifelong interest and love of music.

She and her husband raised many beautiful flowers, which she was frequently called upon to arrange and furnish for her church and many other special events for friends and organizations.

Ruth is survived by; a daughter; Margaret (H. Dale) Gotschall of Cambridge, three grandsons; Douglas Gotschall, Mark (Jodi) Gotschall, Bradley (Donna) Gotschall all of Cambridge, a granddaughter-in-law; Andrea Gotschall, and eight great grandchildren; Stephanie, Joseph, Benjamin, and Dale R., Gregory, and Sarah Gotschall all of Cambridge, and Emily and Molly Gotschall both of Columbus.

Her husband of 61 years, her parents; a sister; Edith Phillips, a brother; Raymond Peter, a grandson; Jeffrey Gotschall, a granddaughter; Rebecca Gotschall, and a granddaughter-in-law Caren Gotschall precedes her in death.

Cremation will take place at Toland-Herzig Funeral Home and Crematory. A private graveside service will be held at Clay Gnadenhutten Cemetery in Gnadenhutten, Ohio. Those wishing to express their fondest memories of Ruth may do so by visiting the on line obituaries link on the funeral homes website.

The family asks that Contributions be made in Ruth�(TM)s name to the Dover First Moravian Church, 319 Walnut Street, Dover, Ohio 44622.