Ruth A. Kniess Sutton was born in Butler, PA (Center Twp.), January 14, 1916, the daughter of the late Bert W. and Ethel V. McCandless Snyder.

She graduated from Butler High School at the age of 16 in 1932 and graduated from Slippery Rock Normal School in 1934. Mrs. Sutton began her illustrious 48-year teaching career in 1934 at the age of 18. She retired in 1986.

Mrs. Sutton was a devoted member of the First Baptist Church in Butler where she was a choir member, Board of Christian Education Member and Sunday School teacher. Ruth taught Sunday School for 52 years. In her earlier years, she was a member of Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Prospect where she was church clerk for 20 years and a youth leader.

Ruth had a beautiful soprano voice and sang many solos at church, weddings and funerals.

Mrs. Sutton was a life member of the Pennsylvania Association of School Retirees(PASR); a member of the Butler County Association of School Retirees and a member of the GFWC PA Woman's Club of Butler.

Surviving are her daughter, Ilagene F. Ruff (with whom she resided) and one granddaughter, Leann R. Burkholder, both of Naples, Florida. Also surviving are two stepsons, Randall L. Sutton of Houma, LA and Jeffrey A. Sutton of Centreville, Virginia; 3 stepdaughters, Mrs. James(Debora) Bright of Butler, Mrs. Donald (Pamela) Drane of Valencia and Mrs. Thomas (Maryann) Maher of Slippery Rock; eight step grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

She was the last surviving member of her family. She was predeceased by her first husband, Ernest L. Kniess who died on August 16, 1962, her second husband John F. Sutton who died on December 9, 1992; two sisters and one brother.

Friends will be received at Thompson-Miller Funeral Home, Inc, 124 East North Street, Butler, Pennsylvania 16001 on Sunday, June 20, 2010 from 12:00 (noon) to 4:00 and 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.

Services will be held at Thompson-Miller Funeral Home on Monday, June 21, 2010 at 11:00 a.m. with Pastor Todd Wentworth from First Baptist Church officiating. Interment will follow in Greenlawn Burial Estates.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to First Baptist Christian School, 221 W. New Castle St., Butler, PA 16001.