Obituary of Ruth S. Dodds

Ruth S. Dodds, 62, of 410 E. Fourth St., died unexpectedly Saturday, June 29, 2013 in her home. A Jamestown resident since 2002, she was born September 21, 1950 in Pittsburgh, Pa., a daughter of the late Frederick and Dorothy Kerr Stiening. She received her teaching degree from Geneva College in Beaver Falls, Pa. Ruth had a lifelong interest in music, education and theater. She had been active in the Chautauqua Institution Summer Choir, Dom Kren, Chautauqua Choral Society, Chautauqua Shores Barbershoppers and Noteworthy Quartet, Chautauqua Community Orchestra, and played cello in the pit orchestra for musicals at the Lucille Ball Little Theater of Jamestown. Ruth had taught private piano lessons and was the founder of the Association of Piano Teachers (APT) and A-Musing Singers & Stringers. A former mentor, literacy tutor and Foster Grandmother, she received the 2011 MetLife Foundation Older Volunteers Enrich America Award for her work at the G. A. Learning Center. She was an active church musician and had been a substitute organist for various area churches, most recently serving as music director at the First Baptist Church of Jamestown and as organist for services at Christ Chapel of Lutheran Social Services. She also led music for Little Lambs at Celoron United Methodist Church and vacation bible school. Ruth was well-known as the organist for the WJTN Saturday Morning Breakfast Club radio show. Locally, she owned and operated A-Musing Company Music House. Prior to coming to Jamestown, Ruth owned The Music House as well as being active in music groups and churches in Sheboygan, WI. She is survived by three children: Evan (Dr. Jodi) Dodds of Charlotte, NC, Martha (Adam) Paalman of Neenah, WI and Dr. Catherine Dodds of Matthews, NC; three grandchildren, Gabriel, Caroline and Alexander Dodds of Charlotte; and two brothers: Kirby (Dana) Stiening of Portsmouth, VA and Fred Stiening of Chicago, IL. A memorial service will be held at 3:00 p.m. Thursday, July 4th in Christ Chapel of the Lutheran Home. The Rev. Daniel S. Rumfelt will officiate. Friends will be received for two hours prior to the service, from 1 to 3 p.m. Thursday in Christ Chapel. Memorials may be made to the Prendergast Library, 509 Cherry St., Jamestown, NY 14701; or to the Chautauqua County 4-H Endowment Fund, c/o Chautauqua Region Community Foundation, 418 Spring St., Jamestown, NY 14701.