Ruth A. Bernatitus

Ruth Ayers Bernatitus, 90, of Tunkhannock, passed away on May 3rd at Tyler Memorial Hospital. Born June 13, 1918 in Wilkes-Barre, she was the daughter of William Brisbane and Emma Garfield Jones Stout. Ruth attended school in Wilkes-Barre until the age of 14 when the family moved to Mehoopany. She continued he education there and went on to graduate from Tunkhannock High School She married Kenneth B. Ayers on August 1, 1936 who predeceased her on November 22, 1959. She married Alex Bernatitus on June 6, 1970 who predeceased her on November 12, 2001. Ruth resided the entire time of her first marriage in Mehoopany, except for a brief interruption to reside in Wyalusing during 1952-1953, and was very active in the community. She and friend Grace Trowbridge were instrumental in starting the first Mehoopany fire company. She fondly remembers sending husband Kenneth to the court house to get the assessment role so it could be determined the amount each household should contribute. Kenneth was to act as first treasurer of the fire company. Most of the time of her second marriage was happily spent as a river rat resident of Myo Beach, Meshoppen, PA. Once her children were well established in school, she entered the world of work outside the home as an Avon representative. Upon the death of Kenneth, she relocated to New Jersey to find employment with the RCA Corporation. Ruth later returned to Mehoopany and was employed for awhile at the Bendix Corporation in South Montrose before finishing her working career at P & G, retiring in 1984. Besides her two husbands, Ruth was predeceased by a daughter Sandra Lee Layaou and son-in-law Clifford Layaou. Survivors include her son James Malcolm Avers of Kerhonkson, NY, grandchildren Kenneth Ayers of Gainesville, Fl, Keith and Kira Ayers of Kerhonkson, NY, Kenneth and Frank Layaou of Mehoopany, Jenneth Romesberg of State College, and Clifford Layaou Jr. of Jermyn. Ruth also leaves behind eight great grandchildren. At Ruth’s request, a graveside service will be held at 10 am Saturday, May 23rd at St. Joachim’s cemetery in Meshoppen to be followed by a similar ceremony at the Vaughn cemetery in Mehoopany. Cremation and service arrangements by Sheldon-Kukuchka Funeral Home, Inc., 73 West Tioga St., Tunkhannock, PA. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Tyler Memorial Hospital.