NEW CASTLE - N. Ruth (Black) Schirmer, age 81, of New Castle, passed away peacefully surrounding by her loving family on Sunday, Jan. 30, 2011, at her residence. Born on May 15, 1929, in Wilmington, she was the daughter of the late Fredrick Nelson and Nina Mitchell (Hastings) Whaples. Ruth worked as a sales associate for Sears at Prices Corner for 15 years. Later she worked at Norma's Sub Shop in Milton for more than 20 years. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by a daughter, Lorna Snyder of Lacey, Washington; two sisters, Ellen Fays and Barbara Castrone; and three brothers, Nelson and Frank Whaples and Jimmy Hudson. She leaves many wonderful memories to her children, Carol Lee Carroll and her husband, Ronald of Ellendale, Laurence Black and his wife, Susan, of Middletown, David Black of Hartley, and Evalyn Crews and her husband, Doug, of Elkton, Md.; grandchildren, John Hudson, Chris Carroll, Laurence Black, Jonathan, Megan, and Jenny Black, Adam, Andrew and Austin Crews; great-grandchildren, Haley Hudson, Mia Black, Mason Black, Christian Walls and Lily Carroll; and three sisters, Evelyn Cahall, Madelyn Mills and Kathy Shutak. Funeral services will be 11 a.m., Thursday, Feb. 3, at Daniels & Hutchison Funeral Home LLC, 212 N. Broad Street, Middletown, where friends may visit with the family from 9:30 - 11 a.m. Interment will follow in Old Drawyers Cemetery, near Odessa. Arrangements by Daniels & Hutchison Funeral Home LLC, Middletown. On-line condolences may be sent to www.daniels-hutchison.com 302-378-3410