Graveside funeral services for Ruth Ellen Zander, 80, of Huntsville, Alabama, will be held at St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery, Newark, 12 Noon, Saturday, August 20, 2022, with Fr. David Sizemore as celebrant.  Friends and family may call at the Reed-Egan Funeral Home from 11:00- 11:30 A.M., prior to the service.

Ruth passed away peacefully at Huntsville Hospital, surrounded by the love of her family, on Thursday, August 11, 2022.  She was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvanian on April 22, 1942, the oldest of five children to the late Carl and Eleanor West

Having grown up in Newark, Ruth moved to Alabama with her husband, Michael, in 1991. Five short years later, Ruth became a widow and began growing her Avon business to keep busy and meet people. Affectionately known as the "Avon Lady", Ruth enjoyed delivering orders to her customers, who quickly became her friends. In business for 54 years, Ruth enjoyed weekends selling Avon at her booth at the Limestone County Flea market for the 12 prior to its closing in 2020.

Ruth's grandchildren were a source of great joy for her. In 2017 she was blessed again with another grandchild, Ethan, and began helping take care of him 3 days a week. They shared a very special bond and she loved how he adored her. In 2021 her granddaughter and great grandson moved from Ohio, and she loved spending time with them and supporting them in their sport activities.

A dedicated mother and grandmother, Ruth will be greatly missed by her 3 beautiful daughters, Stephanie Gienger, Julia Graves (Ron), and Tifanie Hutto (Josh); sisters, Sharon Hutchins (Sid), Carolyn West (Terry); brothers, David West and Mike West; 6 grandchildren, KC Foster, Kyiesha Foster, Jenna Dennis (Chad), Jayla Thompson (Nick), Tyra James, Jessaca Graves, Leeann, JJ, Joey, and Ethan Hutto; great-grandchildren, Keishawn Foster, John Towns, Kyla Lewis, Leighton Dennis, Logan Dennis, and James Thompson; and many loved step-grandchildren, nieces, nephews; and brothers and sisters in love.

In addition to her parents, Ruth was preceded in death by her husband, Michael; special friend John Cameron; her infant Gienger twins who passed at birth; and stepdaughter, Cathy Fox.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the funeral home to help with final expenses.