Ruth Ann Roberts

Ruth Ann Cooper Roberts, 88, formerly of Freeville and Owego, NY went home to be with the Lord on May 25, 2026. 

Ruth Ann was the oldest child of Willard A. and Mae W. (Herbert) Cooper. She grew up in Kingston, PA with her siblings Willard G. ”Skip” (Rita) Cooper, Dorothy M. (Edmund) Mason and Kenneth L. Cooper. 

After high school Ruth Ann met her future husband Richard E. Roberts. The couple married on June 20, 1959. They had five children, Richard B. (Marie) Roberts, Susan J. (Daniel) Kinney, Nancy L. (Charles) Robertson, Jennifer M. (James) Baker and Rebecca A. (Nathaniel) Lockwood. They had thirteen grandchildren and seventeen great grandchildren with 3 more on the way this year. Ruth Ann and Richard were married for nearly 67 years.

Ruth Ann did secretarial work throughout her life but when her children came along she became a full-time homemaker and mother. She worked tirelessly to make a comfortable home and keep her family on track. Her sister-in-law said when she thought of Ruth Ann she thought of the Proverbs 31 woman. Summers were filled with canning and freezing the produce from their garden. Neighborhood children were known to show up at the back door on bread baking days, drawn by the smell, hoping to get a taste.

Ruth Ann was also a talented seamstress. She made the majority of the clothes for her children when they were young as well as her own. Ruth Ann made three of her daughter’s wedding dresses along with all of the bridesmaid dresses for all four weddings. Her oldest daughter made her own wedding dress. Ruth Ann tried to pass on her sewing skills to her children, two excelled and three not so much! After her children were grown, Ruth Ann continued to sew for grandkids, friends and neighbors. She learned how to make weighted blankets to give to people with sensory issues and she also made beautiful quilts.

Ruth Ann loved her family but she loved her Lord even more. She faithfully served in the various churches she attended and often invited friends, missionaries and fellow church members into their home for meals.

Ruth Ann was predeceased by her husband Richard Roberts, her parents, brother Skip and sister Dottie as well as her daughter-in-law Marie and great- grandson Bodie. While her family rejoices that she is at peace and now home, Ruth Ann will be sorely missed.

A funeral service will be held to celebrate Ruth Ann’s life on Saturday June 20, 2026 at 1pm at the New Testament Church of Peruville in Groton, NY. There will be no calling hours.

The family would like to thank the staff at Brookdale Ithaca and Hospicare for the wonderful care provided to both our parents over the last couple of years.