Ruth Wilma (Rosa) Schurr, 91, of Fisher, PA, passed away peacefully on December 27, 2024, at Country Springs Personal Care Home in Sligo, PA.
Ruth was born January 13, 1933, in Henrietta Township, Lorain County, Ohio, to Clyde Hayden Rosa and Mary J. (Titus) Rosa. The youngest of four children, she and her siblings enjoyed exploring the outdoors around the beautiful Vermilion River. Her life-long love of plants and birds began in this rural setting.
Ruth graduated from Birmingham High School in 1951 and Bowling Green State University (BGSU) in 1956 with a degree in Biology. In college, she met Karl Schurr and they were married in 1956. While Karl completed a PhD in Entomology at the University of Minnesota, Ruth worked as a laboratory technician at the university’s medical school. They returned to Bowling Green in 1962 where Karl began working as a Professor of Biology at BGSU, a position he held for thirty years. During this time, she cared for their three children, completed a Master’s degree in library sciences at BGSU, worked as a school librarian and a librarian for the Wood County Historical Society, served as the park manager at the Wood County Museum, and encouraged young mothers and preschoolers as a home visitor for the Head Start program. Ruth and Karl retired to the woods of western Pennsylvania in 1992, where they were able to enjoy the outdoors full time.
Ruth loved gardening, nature, and every aspect of the outdoors. She and Karl were members of the Seneca Rocks Audubon Society and loved to feed the birds and participate in the annual Christmas bird count. A passionate environmentalist, she participated in river conservation in Ohio and raised chestnut trees in her woods in Pennsylvania for the American Chestnut Foundation. She also enjoyed travel, from canoeing in the Minnesota wilderness to trips abroad.
Ruth loved animals, especially her two Springer Spaniels, Sparky and Scooter. Taking nature walks with her beloved grandkids and dogs was a special joy. She was also a life-long Methodist and enjoyed teaching children’s Sunday school. In retirement, she dove into quilting and participated in the Strattanville United Methodist Quilting Circle, creating many warm works of art in fabric for her family members.
Ruth was a loving sister, wife, mother, grandmother, and aunt who always looked forward to catching up with her relatives at the annual Rosa family reunion. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband of 51 years, Karl Schurr, brother Charles and sister-in-law Shirley Rosa, brother Paul and sister-in-law Jerene Rosa, sister Elizabeth and brother-in-law Robert Herbst, brother-in-law Virgil and sister in-law Sarah Georgiana Bidlack, and nephew Todd Bidlack.
Ruth is survived by son Dr. Theodore Schurr and daughter-in-law Dana Wormer, daughter Dr. Sarah Ruden and son-in-law Tom Conroy, daughter Gretchen Lugthart and son-in-law Dr. John Lugthart, and grandchildren Peter and Emily Lugthart. She is also survived by many loving nieces, nephews, and their families.
Many thanks to the staff of Country Springs Personal Care Home for their loving care of Ruth over the last two years.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Chestnut Foundation (tacf.org) or the National Audubon Society (audubon.org).
A memorial service for Ruth will be held at First United Methodist Church of Clarion, Pennsylvania on March 8, 2025, at 11:30 am. Visitation will precede service at 10:30 am at the church.
Arrangements are under the care of the Goble Funeral Home & Crematory in Clarion.
Friends and family may send online condolences, memorials, and obtain additional information by visiting www.goblefh.net.
