Ruth Gaffield was born in Kendall, New York, on June 12, 1921, to Martha Scheik Peitscher and Henry L. Peitscher. She had two siblings, Irvin Peitscher and Meta Peitscher Sandow Deburger, both of whom predeceased her. After she graduated from high school, Ruth was employed at the Gleason Works in Rochester, NY. At Gleasons, Ruth met Walter E. Gaffield, a fellow employee and member of the bowling team. They were married in 1946. Ruth and Walt settled in Irondequoit, NY, and had two sons, Walter E. Gaffield and Gary D. Gaffield. Ruth was a homemaker until the boys entered elementary school. Thereafter she was employed by Substitute Office Service as the payroll and office manager. SOS was one of the first temporary office service companies in the United States. Ruth and Walt were active members of the Transfiguration Lutheran Church in Irondequoit, of which they were founding members. Ruth and Walt maintained a vacation home at Kring Point in Alexandria, NY, on the St. Lawrence River, where the family spent many summer weekends, and Ruth and Walt enjoyed fishing and hunting together. In addition, Ruth was part of a bridge club, and she became a lifetime member of the Hummel Club of America. Once Walt retired from the Gleason Works, Ruth and Walt bought a home in Zephyrhills, Florida, next-door to Walts brother, N. (Norman) Stanley Gaffield and his wife Olive. They sold their home in Irondequoit and became seasonal residents of Florida while spending summers at Kring Point. After a short time, they made the permanent move to Florida, where they lived year-round. Walt died in 1985, but Ruth remained in her home in Zephyrhills through her 100th birthday. Ruth was active in many charities, programs, and social clubs during her long residence in Zephyrhills. She was in the choir at Our Savior Lutheran Church in Zephyrhills and was a national representative of the congregation to the Lutheran Womens Missionary League, for which she attended annual meetings in many cities around the country. Also, she maintained a membership in a bridge club and was an avid golfer. With friends and church groups, she travelled to several countries and states, and, driving by herself every year, she visited her family members and friends in Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and throughout New York State. She volunteered to do free tax returns for seniors, worked at the county fair, and served as a poll worker for many years. Most notable among Ruths many charitable activities was her service to HPH Hospice of Hernando and Pasco Counties for almost forty years. Ruth became familiar with hospice when Walt was seriously ill, and, because she recognized the important services that it provides, she dedicated much of her free time to its work. Ruth served at the Hospice House in Dade City for several years and did telephone calls to the bereaved. After the Hospice House closed its doors, Ruth volunteered at the HPH Lifes Treasures Thrift Store in Zephyrhills, where she worked two days a week until her 100th birthday. She received recognition multiple times for being the longest serving hospice volunteer in Pasco County. Shortly after that, Ruth moved from her home in Zephyrhills to the American House in Fort Myers, Florida. She lived in an apartment there, and immediately started to attend the many activities offered to the residents until she was no longer able to do so. Ruth is survived by her two sons, Walter E. Gaffield, of Lexington, KY, and his wife Sue, and Gary D. Gaffield, of Ft Myers, FL, and his wife Diane, as well as her niece Nancy P. Clarkson of Edgewater, FL, and her husband Stan. Ruth had three grandchildren, Meredith M. Gaffield of Lexington, KY, Peter A. Gaffield, of Danville, KY, and James K. Gaffield of Philadelphia, PA, and a grand-niece Lindsey Clarkson Jarvis of Summerville, SC, and her husband Keith, and her grand-nephew Jeffrey Clarkson, of North Hero, VT. A service will take place on Thursday, September 7, 2023 at 10:15 a.m. at Hodges Family Funeral Home in Dade City, Florida. The chapel will open at 10:00 a.m. for a short time of visitation and greetings. The interment will follow service at Chapel Hill Gardens in Dade City, Florida. Visitation Hodges Family Funeral Home (Dade City) Thursday, September 7, 2023 10:00 AM - 10:15 AM 11441 US HIGHWAY 301 Dade City, FL 33525 Funeral Service Hodges Family Funeral Home (Dade City) Thursday, September 7, 2023 10:15 AM 11441 US HIGHWAY 301 Dade City, FL 33525 Committal Service Chapel Hill Gardens & Floral Memory Gardens Thursday, September 7, 2023 11531 Hwy 301 Dade City, FL 33525