Ruth Shay, 94, of Butler, Pennsylvania, passed away on July 28, 2011 at 9:55 am at the VNA Inpatient Hospice Unit.

She was born November 11, 1916 in Butler, Pennsylvania to the late Herman Klein and Hilda Klein.

During World War II, Mrs. Shay worked as a secretary in Washington D.C. for a Marine Corp Reserve Colonel. She then worked as a secretary for Shields Realty, First Baptist Church and International Staple. Mrs. Shay was a member of First Baptist Church where she was a member of the Berean Sunday School Class, served as a Sunday School teacher and was a faithful member of the Women's Missionary Fellowship. She also took correspondence courses from Moody Bible Institute.

Mrs. Shay is survived one son, Kenneth Means of Butler, PA; one daughter, Joyce E. Fontaine of Butler, PA; one step-daughter, Joan Sherman and her husband Robert of Slippery Rock, PA; three grandchildren, Bonnie Fontaine, Robert Fontaine and his wife Donna, Robin Krause and her husband Brian; two step-grandchildren; three great-grandchildren, Christa Atkinson, Jenna Krause and Delaney Krause; several step great-grandchildren; one brother, Herman Dale Klein and his wife Nancy, of Chicora, PA; and a number of nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by her first husband, Howard Means who passed away November 5, 1959; her second husband, Richard C. Shay, whom she married May 11, 1962 and who passed away March 9, 1983; and two sisters, Freda King and Jean Vasbinder.

Friends will be received Sunday, July 31, 2011 from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at Thompson - Miller Funeral Home, Inc., 124 East North Street Butler, PA.

Funeral services will be held on Monday, August 1, 2011 at 11:00 a.m. at the Thompson - Miller Funeral Home, Inc., 124 East North Street Butler, PA with Pastor Dave Maitland of First Baptist Church, officiating.

Burial will take place in the Butler County Memorial Park.

Memorials are suggested to First Baptist Christian School, 221 W. New Castle Street, Butler, PA 16001.