Ruth M. Heffley Boshnaugle, 92, passed away on Saturday, May 10, 2025, seven days before her 93rd birthday, at St. Anne's Retirement Community. She was born in Stevens, daughter of the late Samuel J. and A. Edith Copenhaver Heffley. She lived in Stevens until she married her husband, Donald S. Boshnaugle on November 3, 1956, and then moved to the Mountville area, near Columbia, where together they observed their 68th wedding anniversary, last year.
After leaving school, she worked at Ephrata Shoe factory, then went into the office of Dutchmaid in Ephrata. After marriage, she worked at H.L. Green, Lancaster until her children were born. From 1974 until 2005, she was employed in the kitchen and dining room of St. Anne's Retirement Community. From there she retired.
Ruth enjoyed music and led the song service at church many times and sang with her brother and sister, known as the "Heffley Trio", at many churches and musical functions. Her husband and children also sang at many functions when the children were young. She played the piano, and her hobbies were doing yard work, working on Word Searches, and always keeping a neat and clean home. After retirement, when they raised llamas on the farm, she helped shear and do anything pertaining to the animals. They were like her second family. She was a wonderful cook, having hosted many Sunday dinners, and was famous for her Grandma's German "LEP" sugar cookies which she baked and shared with co-workers, friends and family. She was an active member of the Mountville Church of the Brethren, after growing up in the Ephrata area and raised in the Mohler Church of the Brethren.
Surviving in addition to her husband, are three children: Lydell (Joan) Boshnaugle, Columbia; Cindy (Chris) Patches, Lebanon and Beth Ann (Charles) Graves, Columbia. Four grandchildren: Lisa Boshnaugle; Ashley (Mitchel) Zimmerman; Amy (Joel, Jr.) Sensenig and Alyssa (late Bryan) Kendall. Six great-grandchildren: Easton and Tucker Kendall; Jordyn and Jeremiah Sensenig and Elena and Reed Zimmerman. She was preceded in death by her sister: Lorraine Heffley and her brother: Robert Heffley.
The Funeral Service will be held at Mountville Church of the Brethren, 60 Clay Street, Mountville, PA 17554 on Monday, May 19, 2025, at 11:00 A.M. with Pastor Angela Finet, officiating. Interment in Mountville Brethren Cemetery. Viewing will be from 10:00 A.M. to 11:00 A.M. Remembrance gifts may be made to Mountville Church of the Brethren or St. Anne's Retirement Community, 3952 Columbia Avenue, Columbia, PA 17512. Arrangements by the Workman Funeral Homes, Inc., Mountville/Columbia. To send an online condolence, visit the condolence page.