Ruth Giberson Adams

Ruth Giberson Adams, 86, formerly of 38 Parkside Avenue, Lancaster, PA, passed away peacefully at the Gino J. Merli Veterans Center, Scranton, PA on July 10, 2017. Born in Lancaster, PA, she was wife of the late Carl F. Adams, Jr., who died on August 13, 1990. She was the daughter of the late Thomas Nevin and Barbara Borger Giberson. A 1948 graduate of J.P. McCaskey High School, Ruth went on to study nursing and became an RN through the former Lancaster General School of Nursing, graduating in 1950. She worked in several local medical institutions and did private duty nursing. Well into her nursing career, she decided to pursue a different course, and when Franklin & Marshall College became a co-educational institution in 1968, she became the first woman to enroll in their new continuing education program for women. She soon became a full-time student and received her BA in English Literature in 1973. Upon graduating from F&M, Ruth became a teacher in the Penn Manor School district, teaching at both the Marticville Middle School and Penn Manor High School. Her teaching career spanned 20 years. Ruth enjoyed an active social life. She was known as “Gorgeous Gussie” among her nursing friends who continued to meet regularly for lunch long after their retirement years. While teaching, she became a member of “The Flamingos,” a group of teachers and friends and maintained a full schedule of trips, dinners and celebrations. In pursuit of her academic interests, Ruth traveled frequently to England to study the works of Thomas Hardy and other authors whose works she taught in high school. She shared many of these trips with her late husband and together they toured many parts of the country. Ruth was an avid reader and member of The Arts Club. In her retirement years she volunteered at both the Lancaster County Library and the Lancaster Historical Society. She is lovingly survived by her three children, Michael W. Adams and his wife, Ann of Lancaster, PA, Mary Katharine and her husband, Bruce J. Prager, Bedford, New York, Stuart T. “Toby” Adams, and his wife, Jody, Cary, NC and a sister, Jean Giberson Hedricks of Lancaster, PA. Also surviving are six grandchildren, Margaret E. Adams, Laura C., wife of Jeffrey Kauffman, Madeline Prager, Emily Prager, Katherine, wife of Matthew Weingarten, Thomas Adams, and four great grandchildren. Relatives and friends are invited to attend Ruth’s Celebration of Life Funeral Service at The Groffs Family Funeral & Cremation Services, Inc., 528 W. Orange St. (corner of W. Orange & Pine Streets), Lancaster, PA on Friday, July 14, 2017 at 11:00 a.m. The family will receive friends at the Groffs on Friday from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the service. Interment at Greenwood Cemetery. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be sent to Gino J. Merli Veterans Center, 401 Penn Avenue, Scranton PA 18503 or The Lancaster County Historical Society, 230 North President Avenue, Lancaster PA 17603.