Sutton

Ruth A. Kniess Sutton, 94, of Naples, Fla., formerly of Butler, died unexpectedly at 10:28 a.m. Tuesday at the Naples Community Hospital in Naples.

Ruth was born in Center Township, Jan. 14, 1916, the daughter of the late Bert W. and Ethel V. McCandless Snyder.

She graduated from Butler High School at the age of 16 in 1932 and graduated from Slippery Rock Normal School in 1934. Mrs. Sutton began her illustrious 48-year teaching career in 1934 at the age of 18. She retired in 1986.

Mrs. Sutton was a devoted member of the First Baptist Church in Butler, where she was a choir member, a Board of Christian Education member and a Sunday school teacher. Ruth taught Sunday school for 52 years. In her earlier years, she was a member of the Mount Zion Baptist Church in Prospect, where she was church clerk for 20 years and a youth leader.

Ruth had a beautiful soprano voice and sang many solos at church, weddings and funerals.

Mrs. Sutton was a life member of the Pennsylvania Association of School Retirees (the P.A.S.R.) and a member of the Butler County Association of School Retirees and of the GFWC Pennsylvania Woman's Club of Butler.

Surviving are her daughter, Ilagene F. Ruff, with whom she lived, and one granddaughter, Leann R. Burkholder, both of Naples. Also surviving are two stepsons, Randall L. Sutton of Houma, La., and Jeffrey A. Sutton of Centreville, Va.; three stepdaughters, Mrs. James (Debora) Bright of Butler, Mrs. Donald (Pamela) Drane of Valencia and Mrs. Thomas (Maryann) Maher of Slippery Rock; eight step-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

She was the last surviving member of her family. She was predeceased by her first husband, Ernest L. Kniess, who died Aug. 16, 1962; her second husband, John F. Sutton, who died Dec. 9, 1992; two sisters; and one brother.

<B>SUTTON</B> — Friends of Ruth A. Kniess Sutton, who died Tuesday, June 15, 2010, will be received from noon to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday at the <B>Thompson-Miller Funeral Home</B>, 124 E. North St., Butler. Services will be at 11 a.m. Monday at the funeral home with Pastor Todd Wentworth of the First Baptist Church officiating. Interment will follow in Greenlawn Burial Estates.In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to First Baptist Christian School, 221 W. New Castle St., Butler, PA 16001.Information and a private guest book are available at www.thompson-miller.com.