Leta D. Ruth

Leta D. Ruth of Newark, Delaware transitioned peacefully and with grace on Wednesday, February 26, 2025. Born on January 20, 1935, in New Florence, PA, she was the daughter of the late Orville Edwin Sellers and Ruth Anna Shaffer (Sellers) Geyer. Leta graduated from Johnstown Central High School in 1952 and later attended Texas Christian University in Ft. Worth, TX. Upon graduating as a Registered Nurse from Conemaugh Valley Memorial Hospital (CVMH) in 1956, Leta worked as a staff nurse at CVMH and later as a psychiatric nurse at Somerset State Hospital. Affectionately known in Johnstown as “Aunt Leta,” she was married to “Uncle Herb,” Herbert Ruth (deceased) and lived in Johnstown PA from 1947 until 1985. Leta received a Bachelor of Science in Education from California State University. Upon leaving her tenure as Director of Nursing at Church of the Brethren Home in Scalp Level, she moved to Delaware where she lived until her passing. In Delaware, Leta entered the correctional medical system as a nurse and supervisor at Gander Hill Prison in Wilmington, and later transitioned into clinical research, working on teams with HEM Pharmaceutical Company and Rhône Poulenc-Rorer (Sanofi-Aventis), assisting in the approval of ground-breaking breast cancer drugs, including Taxotere. She also worked for PharmaNet, Inc., until 2003 and later came out of retirement to work as a consultant in medical research until 2009. Her life in clinical research allowed her to travel the world, blessing her with many friends in many places. An avid reader of detective and true crime novels, Leta also loved antiques, theatre, music, cooking and baking. She was preceded in death by her father, Orville Edwin Sellers; mother, Ruth A. Geyer; brother, Donald O. Sellers; daughter, Amy Leta Ruth; and son, Timothy J. Ruth. She is survived by her son, Joseph Edwin Ruth, Esq of Pilesgrove, NJ; daughter, Susan Ruth Sesack, PhD of Pittsburgh, PA; son-in-law, Brian Sesack also of Pittsburgh; son, Daniel J. Ruth of Los Angeles, CA; grandsons, Timothy Allen Regan of Johnstown, PA and Zachary Austin Ruth of Wilmington, DE; great grandsons, Jacob and Josh Regan of Johnstown, PA; great granddaughter, Kendyl Regan, of Johnstown, PA; great granddaughter, Nola Page Ruth of Wilmington, DE; along with many nieces and nephews of both the Sellers and Ruth families. A visitation for family and friends will be held from 10 am until 11 am on Monday, March 3, 2025, at Spicer-Mullikin Funeral Home, 121 West Park Place, Newark, DE, where a funeral service will begin at 11 am. Interment will be held privately. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Leta’s memory to First Nations Development Institute, 2432 Main Street, Longmont, CO 80501 or by clicking here.

Leta D. Ruth

January 20, 1935 - February 26, 2025