Ruth Palmer Roberts

Ruth Palmer Roberts, 85, of Spencerport NY, passed away on September 18, 2017, at home with loved ones surrounding her.  Ruth was born on July 6, 1932 in McKeesport, PA, where she later attended grade and high school and met her future husband.  In 1954, she graduated from Ohio Wesleyan University (Delaware, Ohio) with a Bachelor of Science in Botany and a minor in English.  She continued her education at the State University of New York – Brockport and earned a Master’s Degree in Education in 1977.  Ruth held many jobs during her life. In her early years, she was a medical office assistant, drive-in movie box office attendant and substitute teacher. Later, she became a middle school teacher in the Greece Central School District and raised her family.  In 1992, after teaching physical and earth science for 25 years at Greece Athena Middle School, she retired from the education profession.  Ruth also volunteered with the Spencerport Conservation Commission by performing wetlands delineations.  She was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution – Irondequoit Chapter, the Masons through membership in the International Order of the Rainbow for Girls and the Order of the Eastern Star, and the Alpha Z Delta Sorority.

Ruth was a thoughtful and loving wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She greatly loved sharing trips abroad and in the United States with her family.  Her value of education, and its benefit to society, was passed down to all her children. They attended college, earned advanced degrees, and some work as teachers.  In her retirement, Ruth was a genealogist and geology scholar, art enthusiast, painter, wood carver, avid reader, and family trip planner and counselor.

Ruth is survived by her sister Jeanne Palmer Hakanson, Knox, PA and five children, Linda (William) Howell of Greece, Dr. Jesse (Katherine Cornog) Roberts Jr. of Boston, MA, Kurt (Holly) Roberts of Raleigh, NC, Laura (Joseph) Bona of Atlanta, GA, and Nancy (John) Mahoney of Cranston, RI; six grandchildren, Brandon (Christen) Howell, Tyler (Mary-Colleen) Howell, Sean Roberts, Olivia Bona and Rose and Rohan Mahoney; and one great-grandchild, Madelyn Howell.  She is preceded in death by her husband of 63 years Jesse David Roberts Sr., her parents Karl Jefferson Palmer and Elizabeth Louise (Foster) Palmer of McKeesport, PA, brother Dr. William David Palmer of Glenshaw, PA, and sister, Helen Palmer Frederick of Columbia, SC.

A celebration of Ruth’s life is scheduled on October 8, 2017.  In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be sent to the Spencerport Teachers Association Scholarship Fund, c/o John Kozlowski, 128 Place One Drive, Rochester, NY 14626.

Condolences may be left at Ruth’s online guestbook at www.RochesterCremation.com.