Ruth Anne Tetschner

      Ruth Tetschner, 88, passed away at Wilkes-Barre General Hospital on Saturday, January 6, 2024.

Ruth was born in Newark, New Jersey on September 4, 1935 to the late Wolfgang and Anna Haring Tetschner.  A graduate from Metuchen High School and 1970 graduate of Wilkes College (now University); Ruth earned her Master’s Degree from Pennsylvania State University. After rearing her children, she returned to college to complete her degree.  She worked for the Dallas School District for 27 years, first as an elementary school teacher, then head teacher, and eventually became the principal of Dallas Elementary School and Westmoreland Elementary School, she retired in 1997.

Ruth dedicated herself to education and was quoted in a The New York Times article in 1990. After earning her Master’s Degree, she continued to attend graduate classes.  She was a charter member of Wilkes College’s Kappa Delta Pi’s Chapter. Ruth served on the board of the Back Mountain Library, chaired the Annual Back Mountain Library Auction in 1998, and was the first manager of the Slightly Read Bookstore.  She was also active in the West Side Junior Women’s Club, serving as its president in 1970.

      Ruth served on Luzerne County’s Home Rule Study Committee from 2009 to 2010.  She was a member of the Shavertown United Methodist Church.

Ruth had multiple interests.  She loved to travel and encouraged her family to travel too.  When her grandsons turned 18, she took them to register to vote and order their passports. She loved playing bridge and was pleased when her daughter Alana joined her bi-weekly card club. She was also a member of the Back Mountain Laurels Red Hat Society. Ruth loved crossword puzzles; she and her best friend Judy Roeder attended the annual American Crossword Puzzle Tournament faithfully.  They also booked frequent cruises, allowing Ruth to meet her goal of visiting all 50 states.

Ruth is survived by her children Heather (and Mark) Ruseskas, Pringle; Alana (and Shawn) Husband-Dwyer, Plymouth, and Philip (and Carrie) Husband, Suffolk, Virginia; her grandsons Luke (and Megan) Ruseskas, Swoyersville, Michael (and Ginger) Sharkness, Edmond, Oklahoma; and Caleb (and Courtney) Ruseskas, Dunmore; step-granddaughters Kelly Dwyer (Greg Zastawny), Marcy, New York; and Tara (Michael) Forba, Edwardsville; and great-grandchildren Nora, Archer, Hudson, and Paige Ruseskas; her sisters Lydia (and Erwin) Reitter, Hockessin, Delaware and Virginia (and Richard) Kellow, Parksville, British Columbia; and multiple nieces and nephews.

      Graveside services will be private at the convenience of the family at Dennison Cemetery in Swoyersville.  Memorial donations may be made to the 1LT Michael J. Cleary Memorial Fund through the Luzerne Foundation at 34 South River Street, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18702. Arrangements are under the care of Richard Disque Funeral Home, 2940 Memorial Highway, Dallas, Pa. 18612. On line condolences may be made at Disquefuneralhome.com