Obituary of Ruth Theresa Speedling

On December 1, 2013, Ruth Theresa Speedling of Hughsonville, passed from this earth, two days after her 90th birthday. Ruth was born in Poughkeepse on November 29, 1923 to the late Francis and Helena Koehler Keenen and is a fine example of the greatest generation like many who have gone before her. She married William Speedling, also from Poughkeepsie and a WW2 Army veteran, on January 27th 1946. During WW2 Ruth served her country by volunteering as a nurses aid with the USO and working at Schatz Federal Bearing. Ruth was an honorable stay-at-home mother, worked at Oak Grove Elementary School and Montgomery Wards. She resided at the Manor at Woodside for the past four years. Well into her eighties Ruth was an active member of her community; volunteering for Meals on Wheels, Hughsonville Fire Dept Lady's Auxiliary, Vassar College, and St Mary's Church in Wappingers for 53 years. Ruth loved to travel especially to the Jersey Shore and was a one time winner of the Wappingers Falls Senior of the Year award. Ruth joined her husband William, who passed on January 20th 1981, to enjoy peace in eternity with Jesus. She is survived by four children (and their spouses), Bill (Marge), Sue (Don) Bennett, Paul (Nance), and Mike (Lauren), five grandchildren; Shannon (Jim) Crisafulli, James (Alison) Daniels, Sarah, Ryan, and Breanna (Andy) Crane, and eight great-grandchildren; Gabby, Emma, Julianna, Thomas, Layla, Charlotte, Ethan, Mason. She was pre-deceased by her late companion, Howard Bischoff and her siblings, Frank Keenen, Helen Altic, Anne Kellerhouse and Leonard Keenen. Family will receive friends on Tuesday, December 3, 2013 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. and Wednesday, December 4 from 10 a.m. to 12 noon at Straub, Catalano & Halvey Funeral Home, 55 East Main Street, Wappingers Falls. A funeral service will follow at 12 noon at the funeral home. Interment will then follow at Fishkill Rural Cemetery, Route 9, Fishkill. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Ruth's name may be made to Meals on Wheels of Wappingers Falls, c/o 2568 South Avenue, Wappingers Falls, NY 12590. To send the family a personal condolence or for directions, please visit our website at www.StraubCatalanoHalvey.com.