Ruth Elizabeth Washington Pugh, age 91, formerly of Dunkirk and Cassadaga, passed away July 31, 2012, at the Chautauqua County Home. Ruth was born in Dunkirk, October 2, 1920, the daughter of Frederick Albert and Pearl Jane Siggins Washington. She now joins her husband, James H. Pugh, in heaven, who passed January 28, 2009. The High School Sweethearts had celebrated their 69th wedding anniversary in 2008.
She is survived by daughters Bonnie Jane (Leon) Ciesla Sr. of Debary, Florida and Gail Pugh Dash of Cassadaga. Four grandchildren; Leon (Stacey) Ciesla Jr. of Deltona, Florida, James M. Dash (Michelle) of Forestville, Jennifer Elizabeth (Corey) Jordan of Salem, West Virginia and Mark Avalear of Kennett Square, Pa. Six great grandchildren, the joys of her life, Leon III and Joseph Ciesla of Deltona, Florida, Ryleigh Elizabeth and Nathan James Jordan of Salem, WV., Alicia Lynn Jordan of Pennsylvania, Nicole Lynn Avalear of Bethesda, Maryland and Tyler Lycett of Forestville.
Also surviving is Ruth's older sister Rebecca Washington Kugler Dlouhy, of Wycliff, Ohio, brother Frederick A. (Eleanor) Washington of Charlotte, NC (formerly of Cassadaga), NY and Bruce Washington (Deb) of Twinsburg,
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Ruth Elizabeth Washington Pugh
Ohio. She was preceded in death by brother Ward Washington and sister June Washington Newell. Rebecca, Art and Bruce visited their sister on July
15, the day after the Washington family reunion. Ruth attended the Cassadaga Community Baptist Church with her husband where she served on the
Church board. She previously was a member of the Fredonia and Dunkirk Baptist Churches. Ruth had a passion for plants and flowers and was
a member and office holder in the Dunkirk Garden Club for many years. Her flower arranging and creativity were evidenced in her home, her churches
and arrangements for her friends and family members. She won numerous ribbons for her arrangements entered at flower shows. She was an ardent homemaker, and had enjoyed sewing, decorating and furniture refinishing for many years. In 2000, Ruth held a family tea party for the Washington ladies at her
home in Cassadaga and it was featured as a pictorial and article in the Dunkirk OBSERVER. Ruth learned to play golf in her mid-60's when she and her husband Jim,
moved to their retirement home in Cassadaga. They enjoyed many hours of golf as members of the Cassadaga Country Club. Many times her name was in the
OBSERVER for her golf scores. In their younger years, she and her husband played in the Western New York Championship badminton league. They enjoyed traveling with numerous trips out West, to Canada and to visit family in Florida. Ruth is fondly known far and wide as "The Queen." Her Great Granddaughter, Ryleigh, now 5, started calling her The Queen, when she first began to talk. Seeing her Great Grandmother at the County Home reminded Ryleigh of her nursery rhymes. "The Queen who lives in the Castle with Thumbelina." She was also a member of the Cassadaga Branch Library Association and a life member of the Order of the
Eastern Star, Dunkirk. Ruth will be remembered fondly by all as a beautiful woman, full of grace and charm. A dear daughter, wife, mother, grandmother,
great-grandmother, sister, aunt and cousin. She will be truly missed. There is a special place in Heaven for this wonderful woman. Family and friends may
call at the Jordan Funeral Home in Sinclairville, NY, Thursday, August 16 from 4 to 8 p.m. The Order of the Eastern Star will conduct their ceremony at 7
p.m. A celebration of life service will be held at noon, Friday, August 17, at the Cassadaga Community Baptist Church. A luncheon will be held in the church
social hall after the service. The family expresses their sincerest thanks to the entire staff on 1A at the Chautauqua County Home for almost eight years of
caring for Ruth and Jim Pugh. Thanks also to Hospice and their attentive staff. Also thanks to the special volunteers. Memorials may be made to the Cassadaga Community Baptist Church, Hospice, the Cassadaga Volunteer Fire Department or Rescue Squad or a charity of ones choice. Internment for Ruth and
Jim will be at the convenience of the family at Willowbrook Cemetery in Dunkirk.
