Ruth M. (Richendrfer) Knott

On January 24, 2022, Ruth M. (nee Richendrfer) Knott, age 99, of Marriottsville, MD, devoted mother of Thomas C. Knott, John Alan Knott, Nina M. Linebarger and Karen J. Kozak, the last surviving sibling of Sadie E. Wilson, Harold E. Richendrfer, Rev. Rufus W. Richendrfer, Grace E. Broadt, Rev. Charles Leonard Richendrfer, and Lester F. Richendrfer, loving grandmother of Eric, Michele, Kelley, Kevin, Krista, and Jonathan, and great grandmother of 11.

Ruth grew up on the family farm in Espy, just east of Bloomsburg. She was the middle child of seven and was the last surviving sibling. She attended a one-room schoolhouse until the consolidated school was built. After she graduated from high school she worked in the Bloomsburg area. When World War II broke out she moved to Baltimore, Maryland and got a job as a spot welder at the Sparrows Point Shipyard building oil tankers and troop transport ships. When the war ended, she  worked as a telephone switchboard operator, manually plugging lines to make connections. When customers would give a wrong number to avoid charges, she would ask them to read the number on their phone, and they unwittingly would do so. 

She married John C. Knott and had four children. When that relationship ended in divorce, she worked in various jobs including manufacturing plastic straws, cleaning houses, and sitting with the elderly among others. She lived independently until she was 91, then moved in with her older son, living with him until this time.

She was very active in Trinity Assembly of God, now in Lutherville. She was elected as a deaconess for many terms taking care of communion linens, preparing food baskets for distribution to the needy during the holidays among other things. She taught the two-year old Sunday school class for 27 years with her dear friend, Jeanne Kimmery. She became a prayer warrior, and while the other two avocations ended, she likely will continue to petition God, now in person.

She was a great cook and loved to try new recipes. She sewed clothing on a treadle sewing machine before she received her electric sewing machine. For a long time she washed clothes in a wringer washing machine and hung them to dry on outside lines.

Above all was her sense of humor, which she shared with her siblings. She said, “Of all the things I’ve lost, I miss my mind the most.” Also, “If that man were to speak his mind, he would be silent.”

Ruth was a survivor.

She requested that there be no viewing. Funeral services will be held at Dean W. Kriner Funeral Home & Cremation Service, 325 Market St, Bloomsburg, PA, on February 3, 2022 at 11:00 am. Interment in Elan Memorial Park, Bloomsburg. Thanks to Candlelight Funeral Home by Craig Witzke of Catonsville, MD for their kind assistance.

In lieu of flowers or for those desiring memorial contributions may be made to: the American Diabetes Association, at their website, www.diabetes.org or at P.O. Box 7023, Merrifield, VA 22116-7023.