Obituary of Ruth M. Davis

Ruth Davis (née McClelland) was born March 4, 1932 (Philadelphia, PA) and died February 11, 2024 (Pompton Plains, NJ).  Born to John and Emily (née Turkington) McClelland, Ruth was the eldest of three sisters who sang together during their high school years as the McClelland Sisters at local churches and on radio.  She was a devout and lifelong Christian who loved to play tennis and ice skate; and even in middle-age, she was known to hit a softball out of the park.

Ruth graduated from Haverford High School and finished her bachelor's degree at Philadelphia College of the Bible, being her class valedictorian in both high school and college.  She married Marshall Davis in 1953, and in 1954 they traveled to Pakistan as missionaries until 1957 for International Missions (now Christar). Their first daughter was born in Pakistan in 1956 after Marshall and Ruth made a memorable ride on a motorcycle over rugged roads to the hospital.

The couple returned to the USA with their baby and settled in New Jersey where they continued in ministry and raised their four daughters.

Marshall predeceased Ruth in 2003.  She is survived by her two sisters: Doris (George) Vogel and Nancy (Paul) Michener; her four daughters: Marsha (Keith) Mueller, Judy (Greg [d.]) DeBrosse, Becky (Matthew) Kramer, and Rachel (Dennis) Charney; eight grandchildren: Jesse DeBrosse, Justin DeBrosse, Caleb Kramer, Emily (née Kramer) Davis, Leah Kramer, Hope Kramer, Haley Charney, and Ian Charney; and 10 great-grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. on February 24 at Jacksonville Chapel (264 Jacksonville Road, Lincoln Park, NJ  07035) where she was a member for over 60 years.