Obituary of Ruth E. Ostrander

Ruth E. Ostrander, 97, of 6101 Button Valley Rd., Panama, passed away Sunday, March 29, 2015 at Heritage Green Rehab & Skilled Nursing. She was born June 22, 1917 in Renova, Pa., a daughter of the late Eric and Mary Gustafson Isaacson. An area resident most of her life, she graduated from Jamestown High School in 1935 (known as the Orphan Class), and from SUNY Fredonia in 1939 with an Elementary Education degree. Ruth taught kindergarten and 1st grade at Panama Central and Clymer Central schools, retiring from Clymer after 27 years of teaching. Confirmed at the First Mission Church in Jamestown in 1930, Ruth was a member of Panama United Methodist Church and had served on many committees. She also belonged to the New York State Retired Teachers Assoc., Southern Chautauqua County Retired Teachers Assoc., Harmony Senior Citizens, Retired Senior Volunteers and AARP. Ruth will be remembered for being a caring and loving mother, grandmother, aunt and friend. Her church and church family were very important to her. She is survived by two sons, Larry (Gay) Ostrander and Jeffrey Ostrander, both of Panama; a granddaughter, Lisa Zingale of Phoenix, AZ; two great-granddaughters, Kimberly and Allison Zingale of Phoenix; as well as six step grandchildren and four step great-grandchildren. She was also especially close to her nieces Donna Isaacson and the late Koreen Thrailkill, Miriam Wareham and Helen Bottomley. She was preceded in death by two brothers, Carl and Helmer Isaacson; four sisters, Hulda Allison, Selma Isaacson, Anna Quist and Agnes Pagard; and a granddaughter, Lorrie Ostrander. A private family service will be held. Visitation will not be observed. Burial will be in Sunset Hill Cemetery. Memorials may be made to Panama United Methodist Church, 12 E. Main St., or to the Panama Fire Dept., 27 E. Main St., both Panama, NY 14767.