Ruth Ann Spath

Ruth Ann Spath

Female 1943 - 2023  (80 years)


Personal Information    |    Notes    |    All

  • Name Ruth Ann Spath 
    Birth 4 Feb 1943 
    Gender Female 
    Death 6 Jul 2023 
    Person ID I29157  Stewartsny
    Last Modified 2 Dec 2025 

    Father Harold Edwin Spath, Sr.,   b. 14 Jul 1920, Richland, New York Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 21 Nov 2001 (Age 81 years) 
    Relationship natural 
    Mother Elizabeth Cordelia Rowell,   b. 1920   d. Jan 1987 (Age 67 years) 
    Relationship natural 
    Marriage 27 May 1940  Pulaski, Oswego, New York Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Family ID F15276  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family 1 John F. Tanner 
    Children 
     1. David T. Tanner  [Father: natural]  [Mother: natural]
     2. Evan M. Tanner  [Father: natural]  [Mother: natural]
     3. Nicole A. Tanner
    Family ID F9631  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
    Last Modified 2 Dec 2025 

    Family 2 James Jim Walker 
    Family ID F28069  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
    Last Modified 2 Dec 2025 

  • Notes 
    • Obituary
      Ruthann (Spath)(Tanner) Walker

      DOB: 04 February 1943

      Died: 06 July 2023, at the family home in Pineville, in the loving hands of her husband and daughter

      Born Ruthann Spath in Pulaski, NY, to parents Harold and Elizabeth (Rowell) Spath. Ruthann was educated in the Pulaski school system, then completed the Syracuse University Legal Studies Program.

      Ruthann’s professional work included Human Resources at Schoeller Paper in Pulaski; Hoag & Ledden Law Office in Pulaski; Selkirk Lighthouse & Marina in Port Ontario, R. D. Ventre & Associates in Liverpool; then H. Charles Livingston & Associates in Watertown.

      Ruthann was a seventeen year member of the Sandy Creek Central School Board, a charter and six year member of the NYS-DEC advisory Salmon River Corridor Committee, becoming its chair. She was a member of Eastern Star. As a legal professional, she helped many in the community to prepare for and provide through their final days. She had an abiding love for all things historic, for lighthouses, for helping anyone with interior design, for her depth of expertise in furnishings and Oriental rugs, and was laughingly known among family and close friends by her Indian name -- ‘She Who Moves Furniture.’

      All said, she was the ultimate legal professional, a loving and thoroughly loved mother, wife, neighbor and friend. She was truly one of the brightest lights to ever shine in Pulaski, Sandy Creek and Lacona throughout her life.

      Beginning part-time in mid-1987 through 2006, Ruthann became an increasingly more integral enthusiast, volunteer and eventual part-time employee, actively assisting in efforts to restore, develop, promote and advance the historic Selkirk Lighthouse in Port Ontario, being particularly instrumental in helping to establish, build and promote the business of providing actual accommodations in lighthouses throughout the world, now an unparalleled international success story.

      Married at the Selkirk Lighthouse in 2004 to Jim Walker, she lived and remained active locally through his successive deployments to the Middle East until the opportunity arose for the two of them to live and work in Germany together for two years. Taking every opportunity to travel, the two were able to visit and enjoy more than 20 countries together during their years of a most joyous marriage.

      Ruthann is survived by her adoring husband Jim; son David Tanner of Illinois with children Tori, Mariah and Jack; daughter Nicole Tanner of Sandy Creek, with children Emily and Zachary; son Evan Tanner of Maryland with spouse Amy (Sprague) with children Taylor and Thatcher; step-daughter Jacquelyn (Walker) Lambert of Maine with spouse Christopher Lambert with sons Logan and Cole.

      Ruthann’s living siblings are Edwin Spath of Pennsylvania, Douglas Spath of Pennsylvania, Bruce Spath of Germany. Her brother Leon Spath of Queensbury, NY recently pre-deceased her.

      A Celebration of Life will be at a later date.