Ruth Cook Rife

Ruth Cook Rife, age 87, of Erie, died peacefully at the Sarah A. Reed Retirement Center on Sunday, May 20, 2007. She was born on February 15, 1920 in Ashtabula, OH, the daughter of the late, Joseph R. and Clara Salchli Cook.

She received her degree in Music Education from Otterbein College in Ohio. She moved to Erie in 1944 and taught music, piano, and voice at Wilson Jr. H.S. Ruth was also a soloist at her church, the Church of the Covenant and also had a weekend radio program on WLEU. Ruth worked as a substitute teacher while raising her children and was the state V.P. of the PTA. She was also a member of the Daughters of American Colonists. She later went into the field of Social Work. She loved gardening, reading, traveling, and crocheting.

Ruth was preceded in death by her husband of 26 years, Gerald A. Rife, one sister, Marjorie Fogle, and one brother, Joseph Cook III. She is survived by one daughter, Celinda R. Young, of Long Valley, NJ, one son, Rev. Gerald A. Rife, Jr. (Laurie), of Marengo, Iowa, six grandchildren: Abe Rife (Amy) and their children, Kevin and Ellen, Nathan Rife (Alicia), and their son, Oliver, Joshua Rife (Laura), Jared Young (Laurie) and their son, Caleb, Seth Young (Alison), and Aaron Young (Deanna). Also surviving are one stepson, Brian Otten (Sylvia), one stepdaughter, Sara Niemeier and several nieces and nephews.

Friends are invited to the funeral service on Wednesday at 11:00 a.m. conducted by the Rev. Gregg Townsend at the First Presbyterian Church of the Covenant, 250 West 7th St., Erie, PA. Interment Laurel Hill Cemetery. Arrangements are being handled by the Dusckas-Martin Funeral Home, Inc. 4216 Sterrettania Rd.