Ruth Fairbanks

Mrs. Fairbanks was born Jan. 19, 1912, in Zanesville, the daughter of the late Rev. Raymond B. Niles and Edith Lytle Niles. She moved frequently as her father held pastorates in a number of cities throughout Ohio, including Toledo, Cleveland, Zanesville, Sugar Creek, Youngstown and Warren.

After graduating from Zanesville High School, she earned a teaching certificate from Kent State University. After teaching for several years, she completed her baccalaureate degree from Greenville College in 1935 and then did additional graduate work at Ohio State University.

She was teaching in Warren when she married James W. Fairbanks in 1944 and moved to Youngstown. Here she did substitute teaching for a number of years, before returning to full-time teaching at Cleveland School where she retired in 1971.

Mrs. Fairbanks was a member, Junior Sunday school superintendent and teacher at her church and actively involved in a number of foreign mission activities, both locally and at the national church level. She had continued to serve as the church organist until suffering a stroke at 96.

She leaves two sons, James D. of Houston and Robert B. of Arlington, Texas; a daughter, Ruth E. Joseph of London, England; five grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

A brother, John is deceased.