Obituary of Ruth Eleanor Schoenacker

Ruth E. Schoenacker WATERLOO/SENECA FALLS – Ruth E. Schoenacker, 100, of 190 Ashton Court, formerly of 485 Packwood Road, died Sunday (January 1, 2017) at her home. Friends may call from 2 to 5 p.m. on Saturday (January 7, 2017) at Coe-Genung Funeral Home in Waterloo. The memorial service will be at 2 p.m. on Sunday (January 8, 2017) at First Presbyterian Church of Waterloo. The Rev. Sarah West, pastor, will officiate. Burial will be in Sampson Veterans Memorial Cemetery, in Varick. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to First Presbyterian Church of Waterloo, 42 E. Main St., Waterloo, NY, 13165 or Waterloo Library and Historical Society, 31 E. William St., Waterloo, NY, 13165. Ruth was born August 1, 1916, in Elma, the daughter of Irving D. and Gertrude M. Cole Buffum. She was a graduate of East Aurora High School. Ruth was a 1940 graduate of Cornell College of Home Economics. She taught one year in Belleville, N.Y., then taught four years in Bolivar, N.Y., and later taught from 1957 to 1979, in the Romulus Central School District. Ruth was a member of the Home Economics Teachers Association and was an active member and regional officer for the Future Homemakers of America. She was a long-time and very active member of First Presbyterian Church of Waterloo, serving as an elder for many years. Ruth was also a long-time member of the Waterloo Library and Historical Society and an active volunteer for the Terwilliger Museum and the Memorial Day Museum. Ruth and her late husband, Carl, were recipients of the Welles Award, presented by the Waterloo Library and Historical Society. She was also a member of the Phelps Historical Society, Geneva Historical Society and Geneva Library Association. Ruth was also an active member and served for nine years as President of the Buffum Family Association. She is survived by sons Irving E. (Marie) Schoenacker, of Nunda, Frank C. (Donna) Schoenacker, of Ashville and Terry B. (Rosemary) Schoenacker, of Newark; five grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; sister, June Bunge, of Bushnell, Fla.,; several nieces and nephews. Ruth was predeceased by her husband, Carl E. Schoenacker, who died June 16, 2011; brothers Merle C. Buffum and David S. Buffum. Condolences for the family may be sent to www.coegenungfuneralhome.com.