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Ruth H. Campbell, locally a well-known pianist and music teacher, passed away on Friday, February 2, 2018, as a consequence of a stroke suffered in November. She is survived by her husband, Joseph Duffy, and cousins Don Ruth, his wife Thelma, and Carol Marks, her husband Norman.

Ruth was born on May 29, 1932 to Nina Ruth and her husband, James Hamilton in Utica, New York. Shortly thereafter her father’s employment took them to San Francisco, where they resided in Ruth’s very early years. Her father’s unfortunate death at an early age caused Nina and Ruth to move to Georgia, where they became neighbors and friends to nationally known pediatrician Leila Denmark, who died recently at age of 114 years. Her daughter, Mary, and Ruth remained lifelong friends.

Ruth’s school years were spent in Camp Hill, Pa., where she met and married her childhood sweetheart, Richard (Dick) Campbell. Dick, a nuclear physicist succumbed to stress and died at age 34. Since Ruth was only 30 she decided to further her education in a more employable area than the music–her real love, and moved to New York City to attend the renowned Katherine Gibbs secretarial school.

On Nina’s retirement from teaching, she and Ruth determined to live together, which enabled Ruth to devote herself to her music and teaching, from which she obtained so much satisfaction, particularly when her patience and encouragement fostered her students’ success.

As Nina’s health failed with advancing age, Ruth spent much of her time caring for her mother and did so until Nina died in 1998 at 101 years of age.

It was that same year that Joe’s wife of 50 years died. Eight years later Joe and Ruth married and have lived in Solebury Township these past ten years. Notwithstanding her move from Mercer Avenue in Doylestown, Ruth continued teaching her existing students, and she remained a faithful member of Doylestown Presbyterian Church. As a testament to her faithfulness notwithstanding the passage of many years, Ruth remains close to Dick Campbell’s Family – Ellie Champlin of San Francisco, Annie and Larry Claycomb of Carlisle, Pa. and John Campbell of Arlington, Va.

A service will be held at the Doylestown Presbyterian Church, 127 E. Court Street, Doylestown, PA 18901 on Friday, February 9th at 11:00 am. The family will receive friends from 10:00-11:00 am prior to the service.

Interment will be held in Whitemarsh Memorial Park, Horsham Township, PA.

Ruth’s primary non-music hobby was helping those less fortunate – the disabled, Appalachia’s deprived, Native Americans and abused animals. She gave far beyond her modest means. This kind, beloved soul will be sorely missed. Contributions in her memory may be made to Doylestown Presbyterian Church, East Court Street, Doylestown, Pa. 18901.

Send condolences to www.varcoethomasfuneralhome.com

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