Ruth A. Pendergraft, 71, of 402 Ashland Avenue in Wapakoneta, Ohio, died 10:26 A.M. Sunday, March 6, 2011, at Saint Ritas Medical Center in Lima.

She was born January 14, 1940, in Saint Marys, the daughter of Francis and Nina (Miller) Rohrbach.

She married Thomas B. Pendergraft in 1967; he preceded her in death on March 21, 1981.

She is survived by her six children: Shirley (Kent) Place of Wapakoneta; Sherry (Rob) Royster of Ansonia, Ohio; Thomas (fiance Aundrea Holland) Pendergraft of Fort Wayne, Indiana; John (Denise) Pendergraft of Celina; Matthew (JoAnn) Pendergraft of Saint Marys; Susan (Brian) Mullenix of Mesa, Arizona; by 23 grandchildren; 7 great-grandchildren; by a sister, Marjorie Rohrbach of Wapakoneta; a brother, Gary Rohrbach of Saint Marys.

She was preceded in death by her parents and husband.

Ruth was a 1958 graduate of Saint Marys Memorial High School; a graduate of the Phoenix School of Nursing and Rhoades State College.
She retired from Joint Township District Memorial Hospital in Saint Marys, where she had been a surgical nurse. She was also a licensed cosmetologist. She enjoyed reading her Bible, knitting, watching soap operas and working puzzle books. She loved strawberries and had a number of strawberry collectibles. She enjoyed spending time with her family and her beloved cat, Charlie. She was a member of the Lima Seventh Day Adventist Church.

Funeral rites will be held 2:00 P.M. Sunday, March 12, 2011, at the Miller Funeral Home, 1605 Celina Road, Saint Marys, Pastor Kent Place, officiant. Private family burial rites will be held at Elm Grove Cemetery.

Friends may call from 2-4 and 6-8 P.M. Saturday at the funeral home.