CAMBRIDGE - Ruth Doris Jones Suman died peacefully at her Cambridge home on June 17, 2018 after coping with the effects of a serious stroke for more than a year. She was born in Baltimore, Maryland on Aug. 18, 1918 to the late Clarence William Jones and Susan Elisabeth Maxon Jones.
Ruth was a member of the Class of 1936 of Eastern High School in Baltimore. In May 1941, she married her childhood sweetheart and love of her life, Donald Preston Suman, Sr. Together they went to DeRitter, Louisiana where Don served in the Army Air Corps and Ruth worked as a civil servant on the base during World War II. They had been married for 40 years when Don died suddenly in 1981. Ruth was also preceded in death by their son, Donald Preston Suman, Jr. in 2014, and her sister, Elisabeth Jones Brown. She is survived by her daughter, Nancy (Nan) Lee Suman Duerling and son-in-law Craig Linus Duerling of Cambridge; and her granddaughter, Sabrina Lee Suman of Morley, England.
Owners of a hardware and wallpaper store in Baltimore City, Ruth and Don lived for many years in Baltimore County before moving to Glen Burnie in 1977. Ruth remained in their home until moving in 2000 to Crownsville, Md. to live with Nan and Craig. She was an active member of Linthicum Heights United Methodist Church for more than 30 years, where she was co-chair of the prayer chain committee, a member of the Bible and Life Sunday School Class, and a regular volunteer in the church office. She joined Zion United Methodist Church after moving with the family to Cambridge, Md. in 2008. Devoted to God and family, Ruth was an avid homemaker, cook, and reader. She enjoyed all things related to the efficient running of an office, including bookkeeping. Ruth treasured the years that she and Don worked together in the family business.
Ruth donated her body to the Maryland Anatomy Board, so there will be no viewing or funeral. A celebration of her life will be held at Zion UMC on Saturday, July 7, 2018 at 12 p.m., followed by a luncheon in Garrettson Hall.
In lieu of flowers, the family invites contributions to Zion United Methodist Church, 612 Locust Street, Cambridge, MD 21613 or to Coastal Hospice, PO Box 1733, Salisbury, MD 21802-1833 or to Linthicum Heights United Methodist Church, 200 School Lane, Linthicum, MD 21090.