Liberty, Ohio - Ruth Wallace Ketzel, 103, passed away peacefully Friday, Jan. 9, 2026, at Shepherd of the Valley in Girard.

"Ruth," as she was always affectionately known, was born Ella Ruth Wallace to Raymond and Ella (Wright) Wallace on the family farm in Frizzleburg, Pennsylvania, on Sept. 25, 1922.

Her father died in a farming accident when she was only 2 years old, and she was raised by her mother and stepfather, Charles V. Mack.

Ruth married Harry John "Jack" Ketzel on Dec. 20, 1947. They were happily married until his passing on Nov. 23, 1995.

Ruth was a graduate of New Castle High School and of Jameson Hospital School of Nursing in February of 1945.

During WWII, Ruth joined the U.S. Army as a cadet nurse and served at Deshon Army Hospital. After graduating from the Army nurse camp, she was en route abroad the USS Republic to serve with 750 other nurses in Saipan when the war ended. She returned to serve as second lieutenant at WM Beaumont Army Hospital until her discharge in August 1946.

Ruth worked as an RN office nurse with Dr. Jim Hinkson and Dr. T.A. Grauel. She also worked as a plant nurse at Rockwell International in New Castle, Pennsylvania. She volunteered for the American Red Cross and at Jameson Hospital in New Castle, Pennsylvania.

Ruth was a member for over 60 years at the Clen-Moore Presbyterian Church in New Castle, where she has served as a deacon and was a member of the Irvine Bible Class, as well as the Prime Timers.

She enjoyed fellowship with Wimodausis at the New Castle Masonic Cathedral in New Castle and was also a member of the Jameson Shenango Alumni Association.

Since 2015, Ruth made new friends and participated in various activities at Shepherd of the Valley, Poland.

She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Wallace and Jean (Bixler) Ketzel; grandchildren, Michael (Gabriel) Kohler, Andrew (Jeannine) Kohler, Jonathan (Hailey) Kohler, Natalie Nemenz-Keenan and Mark Nemenz; as well as 10 great-grandchildren.

In addition to her parents and husband, Ruth was preceded in death by her daughter Amy Lynn Kohler; her brother, Glenn Wallace; half-sister, Patricia Mack Cox; and stepsisters, Alice Mack Hudak and Betty Mack Whiting.

A celebration of life will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026, with visitation at 10:30 a.m. in the chapel at Shepherd of the Valley, 1501 Tibbetts Wick Road, Girard, OH 44420 with Pastor Christine Briggs.

Arrangements are being handled by the Davis-Becker Funeral Home, Boardman, Ohio.