Ruth Anne Jackson, 84

June 21, 2019

Ruth Anne Jackson, 84, of Lancaster, PA passed away on Friday, June 21, 2019. She was the daughter of the late Charles S. and Ruth Arlene (Moore) Detwiler. In addition to her parents, Ruth Anne’s brother, Joseph F. Detwiler preceded her in death.

Ruth Anne graduated from George School in 1952 and continued her education at both Bucknell and Penn State Universities where she was a member of the Alpha Chi Omega Sorority.

Ruth Anne and her husband, Theodore C. Jackson, grew up 3 doors apart in Huntingdon, PA where they first met in 1939. Married for 63 years, they started dating in 1953 and were married on Dec. 30, 1955. Their first two years of marriage were spent in San Diego, CA where Ted was serving in the U.S. Navy. They moved to Belleville, PA in 1958 when Ted began his 31-year career with Sperry New Holland which required multiple relocations between PA and NE. In each of these moves, including their move to Lancaster in 1976, Ruth Anne’s magnetic personality eased her family through the transition, and enabled them to quickly become a part of each new community.

After retirement, Ruth Anne and Ted spent many winters in Palm Desert, CA at Ironwood Country Club where she scored the only family hole-in-one, a feat she took great delight in reminding Ted. An avid bridge player, Ruth Anne also enjoyed flower arranging, entertaining family and friends, and caring for the family dogs and other odd pets brought home by her children. Her adventurous spirit and love for travel, began at the early age of 17 when she biked through Europe and that passion for travel continued throughout her life.

Ruth Anne was very active in every community where she lived and among the first to volunteer; she never met an event she couldn’t organize. For 50 years she was dedicated to PEO International. She served on the Lancaster Library Board, was a long-time member of the Lancaster Country Club and actively participated in numerous churches where her family attended. She was deeply devoted and proud of her daughters’ and grandchildren’s lives and attended multiple events and milestones over the years.

In addition to her loving and devoted husband, Ruth Anne is survived by their two daughters, Deborah Jackson Lynch, wife of Kerry Lynch and their daughter Molly of Melvin Village, NH and Linda Jackson Rooney, wife of Eamon Rooney of Annandale, NJ and their children, Sean, Andrew, Jack and Caitlin.

Ruth Anne will be remembered by her loving family, sisters-in-law, five nieces, a nephew and friends for her beautiful white hair, twinkling eyes, welcoming smile, and infectious laughter.

A celebration of Ruth Anne’s life will be held on Tuesday, July 16th at Charles F. Snyder Jr. Funeral Home & Crematory, 3110 Lititz Pike, Lititz PA 17543. The service will begin at 11:00 AM with the family greeting friends from 10:00 AM until the start of the service. Interment will be private. Please omit flowers. Memorial contributions in Ruth Anne’s memory can be made to a charity of your choice.