Ruth M Whittington, 91, of Oceana, WV left us January 31st, 2025 at 12:05 a.m. at the Kobacker Hospice House in Columbus, Ohio after a brave fight with stage four cancer over the last year of her life. Ruth (Aunt Ruthie) was born in Pilgrim, Kentucky on March 29th, 1933 to the late Bert and Edna Harmon Maynard. Ruth spent the last 9 months with her nephews, who were her caregivers and "adopted" sons, Doug Smith and husband Dr. Emilio Amigo of Lewis Center, Ohio. Ruth was known not only for her beauty and kindness but her love for God, her love for her family and friends. While living in Oceana, WV, Ruth attended First Baptist Church and Oceana United Methodist Church. Later, when living in Lewis Center, Ohio, Ruth became a member of the Westerville Community United Church of Christ. From the very first day there, everyone fell in love with her beauty and charm. They instantly started calling her Aunt Ruthie. There are so many to thank for their love and kindness shown to Ruth from our church, one couldn't list every name. We would like to say a special thanks to Pastors Sigrid Rother and Susan Langner for all their love and support and Alma Phalan who instantly became her close friend. Alma sat with Ruth on several occasions at the Kobacker Hospice House, Jerry and Burton Griess Phalan who were with Ruth and us through all of this. Thanks goes out to David and Morven Baker, who loved all of us. Morven made one of the greatest dinners ever for Ruth, Lutia, Emilio and me. The people from this church showed unconditional love to Ruth, Lutia, Emilio and me, that felt like one was being touched by the God almighty. As much as Ruth was loved by everyone from this church, Ruth would talk non-stop about how much she loved the people and wished she had met them sooner.Her wittiness and humor will be forever remembered by those who got to know her. She made everyone feel they were her best friend. Ruth loved reading the Bible when she had her eye sight. She could quote any scripture you asked about. Ruth lost vision in one eye when she was in her late 20's and toward the last years of her life, she lost most vision in the other eye. She never complained about this and even when she was very sick and one would ask how she was feeling that day, she always turned it around and made it about you. She would always say, "things could be much worse." No one loved camping more than Ruth. She loved frying apple pies for all the campers she became friends with and fishing. She usually caught more fish than anyone. I would listen and record Ruth sitting on our back patio or front porch, whistling to the birds as they would whistle back. This was breathtaking to hear. She could name any bird, just by their whistling sounds. Her love of animals and how they would respond to her was enough to know just how special Ruth really was. She was so in tuned with nature. Ruth was so proud to tell us how she was able to mark somethings off her bucket list, at the age of 90. Such as, flying on a airplane for the first time, taking a cruise of a lifetime, wearing her first bathing suit (thanks to Linda for buying it and Emilio for pushing her to wear it), getting in a public swimming pool. It took two days for her to get her nerve up to get in the pool and when she did, the crowd was yelling and applauding her on. We (Ruth, Lutia, Emilio and I) were planning a short vacation to Key West for Christmas 2024 when two days before flying out, Ruth started taking a turn for the worse. She had such a zeal for living and traveling. She wanted to be a part of everything life had to offer. It would be a great injustice, not to mention the love Ruth had for animals of all kinds. Kato, her cat, more like a wildcat, loved her dearly and she loved him. A special thanks to Lisa Hawkes for adopting him when Ruth could no longer take care of him. Lisa was the right person to adopt him, freeing Ruth of worry about what would happen to him one day when she was gone.Those who have proceeded her in death are as follows: Her only son, Clifford, at birth husband Ralph Eugene Whittington Siblings: Wendle, Lewis, Elza, Wade, Sadie DeLong and Edra Smith. Brother-in-laws: Frank DeLong and Alvin Jean Lamb and one sister-in-law Betty Neely Maynard. Several nephews and nieces, Dean DeLong, Ronald Wade Smith, Ricky DeLong, Gregory Richard Terry DeLong and Ann Lamb Start Pritchard. Ruth leaves behind one very close and special sister, Lutia Lamb of Kopperston (lots of people thought they were twins). They loved to dress alike and do everything together. Ruth had two very special friends and companions after her husband passed away, Bob Malcolm of Beckley, WV and Ronald Altizer of Oceana, WV, her nieces: Linda Cline of Smith Mountain, VA and Kay Bower of Ravencliff, WV, three nephews: Randy Smith of Clearfork, WV, Doug and Emilio Amigo-Smith of Lewis Center, Ohio, two great nieces, four great nephews, and five great-great nephews and nieces. The family would like to send a special thank you to Gary Mitchell of Oceana, who treated Ruth like she was his sister-in-law, for all the kind things he did for her while living in Oceana, WV and to all the workers at the Kobacker Hospice House, who made this nightmare, easier to deal with. The care they all showed was nothing but the ultimate respect and pure love for Ruth, her family and friends. This kindness will never be forgotten. Funeral service will be held at 12pm on Thursday, February 6, 2025 in the Chapel of Stafford Family Funeral Home, 143 Clear Fork Rd. Lynco, WV 24870, with Pastor Ozzie Mullens Jr. officiating. Friends may gather with the family from 4pm-8pm on Wednesday, February 5th, 2025 at the funeral home. Ruth will be laid to rest at the Palm Memorial Gardens in Matheny WV, next to her late husband, Ralph Whittington. The family is being served by the Stafford Family Funeral Home, Lynco, WV.