Ruth Romaine Christner

Ruth Romaine Melhorn Christner went to be with her Lord and Savior on May 9, 2017 at the age of 93 following a two-week decline. She was lovingly surrounded by family and the wonderful caregivers at Community Hospice’s Truman House as she set out on this new and glorious journey.

Ruth was born in York County, Pennsylvania on April 20, 1924 to William Curtis and Naomi Schock Melhorn. She and her eight siblings worked alongside their parents on the family’s produce farm in York County. Ruth attended Beulah College in Upland, California to obtain her high school education. She married Eli N. Christner on June 25, 1948. Together, they pastored a small mission through the Brethren in Christ Church in Campbellsville, Kentucky, and later, in Shanesville, Ohio. Ruth and Eli purchased a small farm near Baltic where their six children grew up. During those years, they attended the Emmanuel Church on New Philadelphia’s southside. When Eli’s health began to fail, the couple moved to New Philadelphia, where Ruth was able to do domestic housework. Following Eli’s passing on January 8, 1982, she moved New Philadelphia’s Pines Mobile Home Park, and then to Gordon Rd. N.W. in Dover, near one of her sons’ homes.

Ruth was hard-working, diligent and faithful in whatever she set her hands to. She lovingly created delicious meals, and baked cinnamon rolls and cookies for family and friends – always wanting to have something on hand to serve should company drop by.

She is survived by her children, Joseph (Nina) Christner of Baltic, Dennis (Maggie, deceased) Christner of Coshocton, William (Twila) Christner of New Philadelphia, Philip (Betty) Christner of Dover, Priscilla (Mark) Beitzel of New Philadelphia, and Donald (Sarah) Christner of Dover; her sixteen grandchildren, Kari (Travis) Swartzentruber, Marlea (fiancé, Scott Shook) Meese, Peggy Maple, Dennis J., Scot and Allen (Jennifer) Christner, Heather (Eric) Stanberry, Eric (Katie) and Jason Christner, Laura, Keith (fiancée, Heidi Crouch), Linda (fiancé, Ethan Watts), Kevin and Karen Beitzel, Lisa (Aaron) Jones and Brian (Faith) Christner; her fourteen great-grandchildren (and another expected in July); her brother, Kenneth (Bertha) Melhorn; and her many nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents, her husband, Eli, and her daughter-in-law, Maggie, Ruth was preceded in death by her siblings, Roy, Lloyd, Charles, George, Claire and Cletus Melhorn, and Eva Brubaker.

A service celebrating Ruth’s life will be held Saturday, May 13, at 11 a.m., in NewPointe Community Church, Dover, with Rev. Alan Crawford officiating. Burial will be in East Avenue Cemetery, New Philadelphia. Following the committal, there will be a luncheon in NewPointe Church. Family and friends are invited to call at the church on Friday, May 12, 6 – 8 p.m., and one hour prior to the service on Saturday. To sign an online guestbook and share a fond memory of Ruth, please visit the obituaries link on the Toland-Herzig website.

The family suggests that, instead of flowers, contributions in Ruth’s memory be made to the Emmanuel Mission of Bolivia, 2365 East County Rd., 200 North, Logansport, Indiana 46947, or, to Community Hospice, 716 Commercial Ave. S.W., New Philadelphia, Ohio 44663.