Ruth (Latimore) Johnson

Ruth (Latimore) Johnson passed away on Thursday, September 26, 2024, at the Masonic Village, Elizabethtown, PA. Daughter of the late Edward H. Latimore and late Bonnie (Browneller) Latimore, Ruth was born in Charleroi, PA, in 1949, and raised in Rostraver Township, PA. She graduated from Belle Vernon High School in 1966. She then earned both her bachelor’s (1970) and master’s (1974) degrees in education from West Virginia University. At the urging of a childhood friend who was already living there, Ruth moved to Charlotte, NC, in 1974. It was there that Ruth met her husband Anthony (Tony) Johnson. Ruth and Tony were happily married for 39 years. Tony’s work in the computer field took Ruth and Tony all over the world. They also enjoyed many good times on their sailboat on Lake Norman, Charlotte. Ruth lived and worked in Charlotte for over 40 years and in the process, developed a bona fide Southern accent. A nationally certified teacher, Ruth taught second grade at Lansdowne Elementary School, Charlotte-Mecklenburg School District for a large majority of her career, making a difference in hundreds of young lives. She moved to the Masonic Village in 2019 to be near family following Tony’s death. Ruth was a member of the Myers Park Presbyterian Church in Charlotte, NC for over 40 years. She grew up in the Rehoboth Presbyterian Church in Belle Vernon, PA. Ruth had a wonderful personality and sense of humor and loved to laugh. Family members and her doctor commented that even in her final days, she still had a smile for them when they entered the room. Ruth loved to work in her yard, often staying outside until it was too dark to see, and loved to read, always having a stack of books and magazines at hand. Ruth is survived by her brother, William Hurst Latimore (Nancy), niece, Sarah Latimore, and nephew, David Latimore (Marissa). A Memorial Service honoring Ruth will be held at the Sell Chapel, Masonic Village, Elizabethtown, on Saturday, October 26, 2024, at 2:00 p.m., with visitation with the family at 1:00 p.m. Interment will be at a later date at the West Newton Cemetery, West Newton, PA. The Memorial Service will be live-streamed starting at 2:00 p.m. Please visit https://client.tribucast.com/tcid/a24101468360636 The family requests that, in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions be made to the Alzheimer’s Association.