Ruth Emily (Ross) Rider

Ruth Emily (Ross) Rider Pastor""s Wife Extraordinaire Ruth Rider, 84, passed away on September 2, 2012 at The Estates at Carpenters after a 13 year battle with breast cancer. She was born in Francisco, MI on December 31, 1927 to Rev. Fred and Ethel Ross, a Methodist pastor serving the Ohio Conference. She is predeceased by her parents, husband, Rev. Ben Rider, and sister, Evangeline Castillos. Her immediate surviving family includes her daughters, Dr. Mary Ellen Rider, Lakeland, and Judy Rider Berry (Gary), Roswell, GA; granddaughter, Lisa Kjellstrom; and brother, Paul Ross of Seattle, WA. She leaves a total of 4 grandchildren and six great grandchildren. Ruth attended Findlay College, Ohio Wesleyan University, and Florida Southern College. She was an active pastor""s wife as her husband served pastoral assignments for the Florida United Methodist Conference in Fort Lauderdale, Clewiston, Riviera Beach, Bartow, Daytona Beach, Enterprise, Gulfport, Miami, Eau Gallie, Jacksonville Beach, and Satellite Beach. In several cases, she served as occasional organist, her husband""s secretary in connectional positions, as well as sheparding members in churches served. A resident of Lakeland since 1986, she was an active member of First United Methodist Church, the Bykota Sunday School Class, and the United Methodist Minister retirees, serving in a leadership role in the latter. A celebration of life will be held at 2 PM Friday, September 7th at First United Methodist Church, Lakeland, FL. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that a donation be made to (1) the Ben and Ruth Rider scholarship endowment at Florida Southern College, 111 Lake Hollingsworth Drive, Lakeland 33801 or (2) to a charity of choice. Service: 09/07/2012 First United Methodist Churh 72 Lake Morton Drive, Lakeland