7/5/1923 – 8/20/2016
Ruth Greer, 93, died Saturday, August 20, 2016 at Ridgewood Retirement Community in Bennington.
Ruth Virtue Cooper was born July 5, 1923 in Dunbar, Pennsylvania to Cora Mae Cooper (Hall) and George Dewey Coooper. Her father was a coal miner and her mother was a supervisor at the telephone company, a part-time wallpaper hanger and was active in local politics. Ruth remembered having a happy childhood and parents who gave her love and support. She graduated in 1941 from Dunbar Township High School. Ruth met her future husband, Jim, at a Fireman’s Fair where he offered her a ride in his red Ford convertible. She agreed on the condition that he would let her drive. He only learned after the harrowing ride that Ruth didn’t have a driver’s license. On September 10, 1944, Ruth married James Walter Greer in Baltimore, Maryland, while he was serving in the Merchant Marines during World War II. Their first son, James Jr. was born while Jim was still overseas. After the war Ruth and Jim settled in Baltimore, where Ruth worked as a switchboard operator for the telephone company while raising three sons. Ruth was a nurturing mother who guided her boys to grow up with love, confidence and respect for others. The family’s annual ritual was spending vacations at the Maryland or Delaware beaches. Ruth loved the ocean and was often the first one in the water and the last one out. Jim’s promotion with Travelers Insurance brought the Greer family to Omaha, Nebraska in 1968. Ruth ran the switchboard and PA system at the new JC Penney store at the Westroads. As the couple approached retirement, Jim started researching several Sunbelt states where they could spend their golden years. However, the birth of their first granddaughter in Omaha threw an anchor into those plans. Ruth told Jim that if he was moving out of Omaha, he had to go without her. She wasn’t leaving her granddaughter. Ruth and Jim spent their retirement years in Omaha continuing to dote on the grandchildren, traveling, and playing tennis, golf and bridge. Ruth’s favorite activity was sharing love and laughter with family and friends. During her last years, as Ruth’s health deteriorated she prayed that she would live long enough to see her youngest granddaughter, Anna, get married and her granddaughter Elizabeth, have her first baby. Her prayers were answered.
Survivors include her three sons James Jr. (Karen) of Milwaukee, Randall (Beverly) of Omaha, Leslie of Lincoln; grandchildren Justin Cooper Greer, James Walter Greer III, Belinda (Buffy) Greer Zussman, Elizabeth Smeal Greer, Anna Dewey (Greer) Nance; 8 great grandchildren; sister in law Mary Yenney (Tom) and niece Donna Marie Caddell of Maryland.
Ruth was preceded in death by parents George and Cora Mae Cooper, Brother James Cooper, brother in law Orville Greer and niece Amy Flickenger.
VISITATION 6:00 – 8:00pm Wednesday, August 24, Roeder Mortuary, 2727 N 108th Street; SERVICE at 10:00am on Thursday, August 25, Harvey Oaks Baptist Church, 14515 Harvey Oaks Avenue; Internment Evergreen Memorial Park Omaha, Nebraska
Memorials to the Open Door Mission or the charity of your choice.
