Ruth Mary (McIlwain) Rathbun, 94, of the Sherwood Personal Care Home and lifelong resident of East Troy, Pa., passed away on Friday, Jan. 1, 2010 at the Troy Community Hospital. She was the loving wife of the late George Rathbun who passed away in 1972. The couple married in 1934 and had many happy years together. Family and friends are welcome to gather from 6-8 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 4, and again from 10-11 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 5, at the Gerald W. Vickery Jr. Funeral Home Inc., 110 West Main Street, Troy, Pa. The funeral service to honor Ruth's life will be held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 5 at the funeral home with her pastor, Rev. Christopher Nauta and Rev. Duane Taylor officiating. Burial will follow the service in Glenwood Cemetery. Ruth was born on Oct. 7, 1915 in Troy, Pa., daughter of the late Oscar and Ethel Lizzie (Worden) McIlwain. She was employed by the Troy Leather Company and later by Sylvania Electric. Ruth was the oldest member of the East Troy United Methodist Church, was a member of the Troy Bowling Hall of Fame, Sylvania Women's Club, American Legion Ladies Auxiliary, the Wheel Inn, Homemakers Camp, and the Troy Area Senior Citizens group. She enjoyed watching sports on television, traveling in her younger days, bird watching, and playing cards. Ruth is survived by her sons, Harold (Johann) Rathbun of Elmore, Ala. and Robert (Kay) Rathbun of East Troy, Pa.; her daughter, Ruth Ann (Gayle) Shumaker of Elmira, N.Y.; stepdaughter, Josephine Wright of Granville Summit, Pa.; and stepson-in-law Carroll Wooster of Warren, Ohio; her grandchildren, Hal (Lisa) Rathbun, Michael (Donna) Rathbun, Denise (Dean) Allen, Debra (Ed) Newell, David (Cindy) Rathbun, Diane (Thomas) Hartsough, Mark (Debbie) Shumaker, Scott (Kim) Shumaker, Todd (Maressa) Shumaker, Susan Wenzel, Daniel (Daisy) Wright, Bonnie (Don) Dalia, Carol Ann (Dennis) MacFarland, Beverly (Earl) MacFarland; 32 great-grandchildren; 34 great-great-grandchildren; two great-great-great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews. Ruth was preceded in death by her parents; her husband George; her stepdaughter Doris Wooster; her granddaughter Nancy Varley; her brothers, Floyd, Clarence, and Andrew McIlwain; her sister Helen Johnston; and special friend Eloise Anderson. Memorial contributions may be made in Ruth's memory to the East Troy United Methodist Church, c/o Donna Shoff, RR3 Box 200, Troy, PA (Daily Review, Towanda, Pennsylvania, January 3, 2010).