Obituary of Ruth Dorothy Fuchs Elliott

Age 88 of Veteran, NY, passed away peacefully at home on 20 February 2018. Ruth was born in Glendale, Queens, New York City, on 13 August 1929, the only child of Otto and Elizabeth Pauline Alice Schulze Fuchs. She is survived by her beloved husband, John Alfred Elliott. She graduated from P.S. 113 and Richmond Hill High School in Queens, attended Hunter College in Manhattan, and earned an Associate's Degree from Brigham Young University. Ruth and John were married on 15 October 1949 in the Ridgewood Methodist Church and established their home in Glendale, Queens, where they raised their three children. Ruth excelled in all homemaking skills and served in church, school, scouting, and community activities. A devoted wife and mother, she nurtured her family with abundant love and faith. With her husband and young children, she assisted in the construction of a summer home in Cornwall, NY, where the family spent summers and where Ruth and John lived in early retirement. Ruth's grandparents immigrated from Germany to Brooklyn where they opened a bakery, and Ruth became a talented baker and cook. She also loved to sew, to garden, and to arrange flowers. In 1999, Ruth and John moved to Veteran, NY, where Ruth again served in many church and community activities including Meals on Wheels, Literacy Volunteers, and Rolling Readers. She was awarded the 2008 Impact Area Certificate by RSVP of Chemung County for her Outstanding Volunteer Service in Adult Education and Literacy. A talented pianist since early childhood, Ruth was the organist for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Broad Street, Horseheads, for many years. Ruth was a regal, beautiful woman of deep faith, keen intelligence, elegance, and love for family and friends. The memory of her life will be treasured by her husband, her three children, seven grandchildren, eleven great-grandchildren, and by the many friends who cherished her. Ruth is survived by her husband of 68 years, John; her son, Colonel Bruce Elliott (USMC ret) of New Orleans, LA; her daughter, Susan Portlock of Cary, NC; and daughter Barbara and her husband, Doug Snedecor, of Burdett, NY. Her seven grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren include Kendra and her husband Matt Cope of Cary, NC, and their three children, Alexis, Ella, and Caleb; Laura and her husband Joe Scott of Delray Beach, FL; Allison Portlock of Delray Beach, FL; Christopher Portlock of Freeport, NY, and his daughter Meadow; Steven and his wife Hailey Snedecor of Boise, ID, and their three children, Sawyer, Shea, and Finley; Peter and his wife Rebecca Snedecor of Gilbert, AZ, and their three children, Elliott, Andrew, and Amelia; and Elizabeth and her husband, Brad Bell, of Rexburg, ID, and their son, William. Family and friends are invited to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1060 West Broad Street, Horseheads, on Sunday evening, 25 February 2018, from 5:30 p.m. A memorial service will begin at 7 p.m. Interment will be in the Maple Grove Cemetery in Horseheads, 11 a.m., Monday, 26 February 2018. In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to EOP Literacy Volunteers of Chemung County, 650 Baldwin Street, Elmira NY 14901.