Obituary of Ruth M. Conroe

Ruth Martin Conroe, 72, of Westfield, NY, passed away at 5:15 p.m. Friday, August 1, 2014, in the UPMC Hamot Medical Center, Erie, PA. She was born April 3, 1942 in Lewistown, Montana, a daughter of Mary Fuerstenau. Ruth was adopted by Thomas and Pauline Martin. Ruth was a graduate of the Evanston High School in Evanston Wyoming and immediately enlisted in the U.S. Air Force where she met her husband David, who was from Jamestown, NY. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree, cum laude, from the University of Maryland and later earned her Associate Degree in nursing from the Metropolitan Community College in Omaha, Nebraska. She was a veteran of the United States Air Force serving during the Vietnam Era from August 23, 1960 to March 17, 1964. She and her husband both graduated from the Air Force Officer Candidate School in San Antonio, TX, as 2nd Lieutenants in June 1963. During their marriage and military careers, they served in England, Germany, and throughout the United States. She had worked as a housing inspector at the Offutt Air Force Base in Omaha, NE which was the head quarters for the Strategic Air Command. Following nursing school she had worked as a Registered Nurse for several hospitals in Nebraska, Iowa and New Mexico. Ruth was an avid reader, historian and sports fan and enjoyed knitting and crocheting. She loved animals: cats, dogs, and birds. She was an ardent advocate for the underdog, she encouraged her children to dream bigger than their surroundings and look after those less fortunate. She was a member of St. Dominic's Parish in Westfield, the Home Bureau of the YWCA in Westfield and the Westfield Moose Club. Surviving are her husband of 50 years, David F. Conroe whom she married September 14, 1963 in Amarillo, TX, her father Thomas Martin Worden, MT, four children, Mark Conroe, U.S. Army Ret. of Fredericksburg, VA, Natalie Stamp of Grateley, England, Thomas Conroe, LCDR U.S. Navy, of Oklahoma City, OK, Katrina Conroe of Westfield, six grandchildren, Sean Conroe of Sugar Grove, IL, Emily Conroe and Jocelyn Conroe of Fredericksburg, Jackson Conroe, Charlotte Conroe and Tucker Conroe all of Oklahoma City and two sisters, Cherie Freeman of Salt Lake City, UT, Patrice Becker of Ballantine, MT, and her mother in law Dorothy Conroe of Jamestown, NY. Besides her mother, she was preceded in death by a son Gregory Conroe and a brother Michael Martin. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday in Holy Apostles Parish at Ss. Peter & Paul Catholic Church, Jamestown, The Rev. Dennis W. Mende, pastor will be celebrant. Burial will be in the Holy Cross Cemetery. Friends will be received from 11:00 to 1:00 p.m. Wednesday in the Lind Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the St. Dominic's Parish, 15 Union St. Westfield, NY 14787 or to the Westfield Stray Cat Rescue, 59 East Main St. Westfield, NY 14787.