Ruth I. Bowers

There are no services for Ruth I. Bowers who died Tuesday at Caprice Health Center. Ruth was born April 19, 1925 in Indianapolis, IN a daughter of Charles and Louise Bowers. Ruth retired from the Youngstown Board of Education where she served as a teacher and principal for 29 years. She earned her A.B. degree from Butler University in Indianapolis, IN and held her first job as a social worker at the Christamore Settlement House there. She was later director of Christian education at the Fairmont Presbyterian Church in Cleveland Heights and was director of outdoor education for the Cleveland Heights Public Schools. While in Cleveland, Ruth did graduate work at what was then Western Reserve University and also Kent State University, earning her masters in education from Kent State University. She joined the Youngstown schools in 1955 and taught English for six years at McKinley Elementary School and a year at Garfield, before serving a year as a “helping teacher” at the central offices. She held her first administrative post as principal at Sheridan Elementary School and was instrumental in developing the first teacher education center there, bringing college students and professors to the school to teach methods classes. After nine years at Sheridan, she served as principal for four years at Madison School and seven years at Williamson Elementary School, her last assignment prior to retirement. Winner of the B’nai B’rith Brotherhood Award in 1971, she also served one year as director of elementary education for the Liberty schools in 1972 and was named to the Youngstown Planning Commission in 1973, Towards the end of her teaching career and during her retirement she was employed at Youngstown State University for many years in the elementary education department. Her niece Jane Rossi of Prescott, AZ and her great niece Madeline and great nephew Christopher survive her. She will be sadly missed by her family and good friends Irene Ward of Youngstown and Michael and Susan McKee of Youngstown. Her brother Lawrence H. Bowers preceded her in death. The family request material tributes to Hospice of the Valley or the Mahoning County Adult and Children’s Library for Books.