Obituary of Lillian Ruth Williams

. L. Ruth Mattis Williams, 89, formerly of Wynnewood, Ocean City, New Jersey and Myrtle Beach, SC died on Monday, Sept. 30, 2013, in Charleston, SC while surrounded by her family. She was married to her high school sweetheart, the late Earl C. Williams in 1945 in Fort Hood, Texas. Born in Philadelphia, PA, Ruth lived in the Roxborough/Manayunk section of the city. As a young woman, Ruth sang with her sisters, Margaret Kelly and Virginia Mattis, in the local Christian trio known as "The Mattis Sisters," at Leverington Presbyterian Church. After WWII Ruth worked at the Franklin and Marshall College Library while her husband completed college. There she developed her lifelong passion for reading that included historical biographies and living-history museums. She also loved trains as the Mattis family - from her father to her siblings - were involved with the Pennsylvania and Reading Railroads. She frequently attended the Ocean City Tabernacle and St. Peter's United Methodist Church in Ocean City, NJ. Beloved mother of her three daughters, Karen Williams Kenney, Karol Ruth Williams and Kim Crowley-Williams Hotchkiss, she is also survived by her brother Roy B. Mattis of Lancaster, PA and sister Elaine Jacobs of Medford, NJ. One of Ruth's greatest pleasures was to spend time with family, especially her five grandchildren - Katelyn, Christopher, Colin, Kevin and Calder. On Monday, October 7th, there will be a 12:00 noon graveside service at the George Washington Memorial Park Cemetery, 800 Stenton Ave, Plymouth Meeting, PA. We will gather near the entrance of the park. In memory of Ruth's love of reading and music, gifts may be made to Franklin and Marshall College in support of their libraries at Gift Accounting, P.O. Box 3003, Lancaster, PA 17604 or to the Masterworks Choir, P.O. Box 762, Ocean City, NJ 08226. Ruth will be greatly missed by her family. Funeral arrangements are by the Lownes Family Funeral Home of Lafayette Hill,Pa.