Ruth Emily (Treese) Hughes, 88, passed away peacefully Wednesday at the Passavant Retirement Community in Zelienople.

A devoted wife, mother and grandmother, Ruth's greatest joy was spending time with her family. She was a sideline fixture at her grandchildren's sporting events, wrote frequent letters to loved ones who had moved from the area and never forgot a birthday or anniversary.

Ruth was born Jan. 13, 1922, in Pittsburgh, to the late John and Marie Treese.

She graduated from Westinghouse High School.

She married Ray Hughes, a U.S. Army aviation mechanic, May 22, 1942. The couple settled in Sharpsburg when Ray was discharged following World War II.

Ruth worked as a check-out clerk at a grocery market and as a sales clerk at Turk's jewelry store.

The couple bought a home in Gibsonia, where they raised their family.

In retirement, Ruth, with Ray always at her side, was a generous caregiver and volunteer for more than 25 years at the Passavant home.

She loved to bake, and family members use her crocheted potholders and blankets every day.

In addition to her parents, Ruth was preceded in death by a brother, Jack; a sister, Shirley; a baby girl; a son, Larry; a daughter, Janice; and a grandson, Kevin.

Ruth is survived by her husband of 68 years, Ray, of Zelienople; a son, Keith Hughes and his wife, Debbie, of Tucson, Ariz.; a son, Eric Hughes and his wife, Maritza, of Pittsburgh; a sister, Audrey Pitchke; a brother, Bill Treese; grandchildren, Erin Harris of Helena, Mont., Shannon Dininny of Yakima, Wash., Darcy Fultz of Arkansas City, Kan., Andrew, Thomas and Kenneth Hughes of Pittsburgh, David Sibley of Aumsville, Ore., and Tim, Matt, Josh and Rachel Sibley of Tucson, Ariz.; and 12 great-grandchildren.

<B>HUGHES</B> — Friends of Ruth Emily (Treese) Hughes, who died Wednesday, Oct. 6, 2010, will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. today at the <B>Glenn-Kildoo Funeral Home</B>, 219 E. Grandview Ave., Zelienople. A memorial service will be at 10 a.m. Saturday in the Seaman Memorial Chapel on the second floor of the main building, at the Passavant Retirement Community, 401 S. Main St., Zelienople, followed by a brief reception. Interment will be private.In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the American Diabetes Association, P.O. Box 11454, Alexandria, VA 22312.Online condolences and directions are available at www.glennkildoofuneralhome.com.