Ruth M. Conaway's Obituary
Ruth Mildred Conaway, age 77 of Seaford, DE, passed away on Monday, February 27, 2023, at Delmar Assisted Living in Delmar, Maryland, surrounded by loved ones. She was born on November 27, 1945, in Perryville, MD, to Frederick Parker Dukes, Sr. and Gladys Jackson Dukes, the youngest of four children.
Ruth graduated from Perryville High School in Perryville, Maryland in 1963. She attended Delaware Technical Community College and graduated in 1980 with an Associate’s degree in accounting. Ruth moved to Seaford, Delaware in 1966 and began working at DuPont. While working for DuPont, she met her husband of 52 years, Ronald W. Conaway. She loved accounting, working for many years at H & R Block, which afforded her the opportunity to stay at home with her three children much of the time. Later in life, Ruth returned to DuPont starting in Staple as a Piddler Truck Operator and moved to Textile as a Spinning Machine Operator, from which she retired after 15 dedicated years. She was a member of Laurel Saddle Friends and enjoyed riding her Paso Finos with friends. Always up for an adventure, Ruth loved traveling, camping, and “running the roads” with her sister, Lena. Shopping and purchasing jewelry brought her great joy, but above all her greatest pleasure was entertaining family and friends with large home cooked meals. As her Parkinson’s progressed, she spent quality time cuddling her beloved Pug, Bella.
In addition to her parents, Ruth was preceded in death by her loving husband, Ronald W. Conaway; her brothers: Frederick Dukes, Jr. and Edward Dukes; her nephew, Frederick E. Dukes; her brother-in-law, Robert Ebright; her sister-in-law, Eleanor Kennedy Dukes; and numerous other family members.
Ruth is survived by her children: Angela Naylor (Sonny Warrington), Timothy Conaway (Julia), and Eleanor "Suzette" Marine (Kevin); her grandchildren: Michael Short, Jr. (Cathy), Michelle Lecates (Chad), Brittany Marine, Alexa Mercie (Keith); her great grandchildren: Landon Short, Kennedy Cole, Emmitt Short, Devyn Cole, and Carter Mercie; her sister, Lena Ebright; and her dearest friends: Susie DeMar Henrickson, Rita Little Richmond, Sandra Dinsmoor Shell, and Sandra Keen Rosenkrans; as well as her many nieces and nephews.
A special thank you to Linda Lecates and the staff of Delmar Assisted Living for taking such great care of Ruth as her Parkinson’s progressed.
A funeral service will be held on Tuesday, March 7, 2023, at 11:00 AM, at Parsell Funeral Homes & Crematorium, Hardesty Chapel, 202 Laws Street, Bridgeville, Delaware, where friends may call beginning at 10:00 AM.
All who are unable to join the services in person are invited to join via live-stream by visiting http://www.parsellfuneralhomes.com/obituaries/permalink/10921855/LTWebcast
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, P.O. Box 5014, Hagerstown, Maryland 21741, or online at www.givemichaeljfox.org.
Please sign the virtual guestbook located on the tribute page.
FLORIST NOTE: PLEASE DELIVER ALL ARRANGEMENTS BY 3PM, MONDAY, MARCH 6, 2023, TO OUR BRIDGEVILLE LOCATION.
What’s your fondest memory of Ruth?
What’s a lesson you learned from Ruth?
Share a story where Ruth's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Ruth you’ll never forget.
How did Ruth make you smile?