Ruth B. Leech, 100, formerly of Third Street and the Byre Mor Court Apartments, died Thursday at Sunnyview Home.

Born in North Oakland May 16, 1905, she was the daughter of Francis and Catherine McGinley Smith.

She was a 1923 graduate of Butler High School and a graduate of Slippery Rock Normal School, now Slippery Rock University. She taught first through eighth grades at Herdman School until her marriage. She also was a substitute teacher at St. Paul Catholic School.

Mrs. Leech was a member of St. Paul Roman Catholic Church, the St. Paul Guild and Christian Mothers and the Parish Prayer Tree.

She was a volunteer at Butler Memorial Hospital and enjoyed knitting, crocheting and traveling.

Surviving are three children, Joan C. Geibel and husband, Donald J., of Butler, Donald F. Leech and wife, Theresa, of Albuquerque, N.M., and David E. Leech and wife, Gladys, of Butler; nine grandchildren, Diane Straley and husband, R. William, of Akron, Ohio, William J. Geibel and wife, Theodosia Regal, of Butler, D. Jay Geibel and wife, L. Elizabeth, of Butler, D. Bradley Leech and wife, Kathleen, of Little Rock, Ark., Lynnanne Maxwell and husband, Dale, of Albuquerque, Michele Campbell and husband, John, of West Sunbury, Larry Leech of Maple Heights, Ohio, Gregory Leech and wife, Jamie, of Richmond, Va., and Matthew Leech and wife, Adrienne, of Lexington, Ky.; and seven great-granddaughters, Leah Geibel and Paige Leech, both of Butler, Emily Maxwell of Albuquerque, Lauren and Sarah Leech of Little Rock and Kendal and Haley Campbell of West Sunbury.

A sister, Mrs. Bridget Higgins of Concordia Lutheran Ministries in Cabot and a number of nieces and nephews also survive.

Her husband, Zeno F. Leech, whom she married June 4, 1929, died April 24, 1963. Two sisters and a brother also preceded her in death.

LEECH - Friends of Ruth B. Leech, who died Thursday, Oct. 6, 2005, will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Monday at MARTIN FUNERAL HOME, 429 Center Ave. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Tuesday at St. Paul Roman Catholic Church, 128 N. McKean St. Burial will be at Calvary Cemetery.Members of the St. Paul Guild and Christian Mothers will recite the rosary at 9:35 a.m. Tuesday at the church.Memorial donations may be made to Meals on Wheels.