Obituary of Ruth V. Tanner

RUTH TANNER, 99, Beloved Genealogist Mrs. Ruth Tanner, who would have celebrated her 100th birthday on April 11th, died Sunday, March 19th, 2006 at Sunset Lake Health and Rehabilitation Center, Venice, FL, after a brief illness. She had, just the week before, been honored by the Florida Chapter of the New York State Retired Teacher Association which she served as Vice President from 1969 to 1974. A memorial service will be held at the First Baptist Church, Northport, FL, on April 11th. Born in Scipio, NY on April 11, 1906, Mrs. Tanner, who taught first in Hinsdale and Massena, NY, was an Auburn Central High School English and Latin teacher from 1928 until her retirement in 1961. Mrs. Tanner graduated from Auburn Academic High School in 1924 and from Houghton College in 1928. She married Mr. Laurence Tanner of Scipio, NY on December 20, 1940, and the couple maintained the family’s large dairy farm while Mrs. Tanner taught school. After caring for her aging mother for several years, Mrs. Tanner moved with her husband, Laurence, to North Port, FL in 1975 for health reasons. There they enjoyed 19 years together before Mr. Tanner’s death in 1994. Mrs. Tanner was active in the New York State Scipio Community Church and the First Baptist Church in Northport, FL. She wrote the histories for both of these churches. She was a founder and charter member of Clan Munro, Scotland/USA, and a passionate and respected genealogist. Mrs. Tanner was known by her many friends and acquaintances for her sweet disposition, sense of humor, and devotion to the study of genealogy. She was a member of the both the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) and the Daughters of the American Colonists from 1968. Active in both organizations in many capacities over the years, she served as membership secretary for the Florida DAR. She was frequently sought after for her considerable expertise in genealogy, and gave her last lecture at the age of 98 for the Venice DAR. A resident of Sunset Lake Health and Rehabilitation Center for the past year, Mrs. Tanner could be found there working at her desk, filing information and assisting others with their genealogical research. She leaves two first cousins once-removed: Mrs. Elaine (Manrow) Westmiller of Weedsport, NY and Dr. Ruther (Stebbins) Rivera of Kinnelon, NY; dear friends, Mrs. Doris Johnson and Mr. Don Barlow of Florida, and countless friends.