RUTH SAUNDERS

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Obituary

Ruth Saunders (née Mathews), 92, went home to be with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on Easter Sunday, April 5, 2026. What a beautiful and fitting day to meet her Savior—on the very day the world celebrated His resurrection.

Ruth was born at home in West Newton, Pennsylvania—what she always fondly called “the country.” She spent most of her life in Elizabeth, Pennsylvania, where she created a home that was always full of people, laughter, stories, and love.

She was the daughter of Louise (Taylor) and Curtis Olden Mathews. Her mother, Louise, was born in Dover, England, and came to the United States as a young child, then moved back to England when the war broke out, before eventually returning to the U.S., where she devoted her life to her family as a homemaker. Ruth fondly remembered her mother’s traditional British cooking—simple and without much seasoning but always made with love. There was even a family rumor that her mother’s distant cousin was the actress Elizabeth Taylor, though that was never confirmed.

Her father, Curtis Olden Mathews, worked as a deep-sea bell diver before later working in the steel industry. From both of her parents, Ruth was introduced to Jesus early on, and she gave her life to the Lord when she was just 7 or 8 years old. Church was always a part of her life, and she held close the memory of walking to church every Sunday and coming home to Sunday dinner, often with chicken from the chickens her family raised.

Ruth grew up in a blended family with 11 siblings, sharing a room with her 4 sisters and lots of hand-me-down clothes. She was preceded in death by her siblings Paul, Edward, Vernon, Theodore, and Glen Brown, and Thelma, Louise, Curtis, Viola, Lloyd, Wallace, and Winona Mathews. Her beloved sister Winona “Wink”  survives her.

Ruth loved her childhood. She loved playing with paper dolls, spending time outside in the meadows and grass during the summer, and singing songs, especially with her sister Wink. She loved school, especially English and spelling, and proudly called herself a “goody two-shoes.” The one time she got into trouble was when she was talked into skipping Sunday School with two of her siblings to spend time under the bridge at Loch 4 in Monongahela, costing her perfect attendance that year.

Her love of plants and flowers led her to a greenhouse in Elizabeth, where she met the love of her life, George O. Saunders. They were married shortly after high school graduation from Elizabeth Forward in 1952 and spent 67 wonderful years together before his passing in 2020. George worked at U.S. Steel and later served as a pastor at their beloved Gospel of Jesus Church in Duquesne, where Ruth remained a devoted member for many years. She always looked forward to the church’s yearly Christmas gift, a simple writing pen and letter opener that brought her so much joy.

Ruth loved being a mom and grandma. She and George raised six children: George Jr., Duane, Gregory “Newt,” Denise (Lynn), William “Buster,” and Theodore “Teddy.” But to so many others, she was “Grandma Ruth,” and she welcomed everyone as her own. She had 8 grandchildren, Kip Saunders, Lee Saunders, Earl Saunders, Jason Chavis, Austin Saunders, Dawn Burney, Douglas Boykin, Danielle Winston, and several great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins, and many friends who celebrate her life and will miss her dearly.

She was preceded in death by her sons William “Buster” Saunders and Theodore “Teddy” Saunders, and grandson Garrett Harrison Saunders.

She had a special relationship with cousins Sharon Flintall, Janice Johnson, and Marlene Johnson, also known as “The Golden Girls” from the popular TV show. Sharon was Rose, Janice was Blanche, Marlene was Sophia, and Ruth was Dorothy, always the level-headed, practical one.

Though she did not travel far from home except for trips to Georgia, California, and Montreal, Ruth explored the world through books and her love of learning. She had a gift for teaching and shared what she knew with her children and countless others. She even taught several of the kids who called her Grandma Ruth how to swim, despite never learning herself and having a lifelong fear of water because of her father’s work as a bell diver and the ocean her mother once crossed.

She loved music of all kinds—gospel, oldies, opera, and Broadway—and especially enjoyed artists like the Temptations, Gladys Knight, and Aretha Franklin. Over the years, she worked at Westinghouse in the mailroom, in retail at Today’s Woman, and as a courier for the Calairo and Corbett law firm in Pittsburgh, which she especially loved because she found the law so interesting. When she was asked if she could become an expert in something, she said an astronomer.

Ruth also had a creative spirit. She loved to crochet, decorate for the seasons, and make holidays special. Her home on Clay Street was where everyone gathered, especially during her famous Christmas parties—complete with an authentic bingo wheel, with kids taking turns being the caller. There was always laughter, warmth, and something special about being in her home.

She loved shopping and had a special fondness for QVC, becoming quite the pro at online ordering. Packages arriving at her door were a regular occurrence, which led her grandson Kip to build many shelving units for her treasures and, of course, her plants.

When asked what she wanted to be remembered for, Ruth said simply that she was kind and loved everyone she met. That is exactly how she will be remembered. Sitting at her feet, listening to her stories, and receiving her warm hugs are memories that will be deeply missed and forever cherished.

Ruth leaves behind a beautiful legacy of love, faith, and family. She fought the good fight, she finished the race, and she kept the faith. She was looking forward to walking with God, who undoubtedly welcomed her with open arms and the words “Well done, good and faithful servant.”