A memorial service to celebrate Ruth’s life, legacy, and eternal life will be held Friday, January 31, 2025, at 2:00 pm at Abbey Funeral Home in Tallahassee. If you would like to watch the live stream of the service, click here. Her obituary is below.
How do you reduce a life of such immense impact into a few sentences? Ruth impacted countless lives with her generous, sweet, and winsome spirit. She was the consummate pastor’s wife, serving churches and congregations from Germany to Japan and coast to coast in the USA. She was a gifted soprano (a coloratura in her day) but even more, she had an amazing way of instilling confidence and bringing the absolute best out of each one of her choir members, as well as all of those who were blessed to have known her in the many other ways she served. Her love for her husband and her family was only surpassed by her love for her savior, Jesus Christ.
Ruth was born to Albert and Essie Sherer on the second day of 1933 in Rock Hill South Carolina. She was an Alumnus of Rock Hill High School (class of 1951), where she was the lead majorette as well as the Drum Major. Her skills earned her a scholarship to Murray State College (KY) and to Winthrop College in Rock Hill. She met Doug while he was in Seminary and starting a church in Rock Hill. They fell in love and were married in June of 1954. They enjoyed 70 years of wonderful marriage- built on their relationship with Jesus, their commitment to each other, and to the vows of their marriage.
Ruth is survived by her husband, Doug, her daughter Phyllis Schwartz, (Mike), and her sons David (Shannon) and Mike (Gina). Her grandchildren are Mary Ruth, Lauren, Roman, Christian, and Anna. But her spiritual brothers, sisters, children, and grandchildren are too numerous to count, as Ruth invested herself in so many lives over her years. In fact, from just one of the many youth choirs she led, 39 students have gone into full-time ministry!
While she will be missed sorely by her family and friends, we know that when we are raised on that day, Ruth will be waiting there for us- and in the choir! She will either be directing it or singing all the high notes- but we will definitely know her presence!
We can’t wait to see her again, and that is our assurance because of the certain hope of the gospel.