Ruth S. Merritt, 93, of Marienville died Wednesday at Brookville Hospital.

Ruth was born Aug. 22, 1917, in Cranesville, Erie County, the daughter of Clifford and Elsie Vandervort Leonard.

On Oct. 18, 1935, she married William H. Merritt, who preceded her in death in 2004.

Ruth was a Methodist and was a member of the Marienville VFW Auxiliary.

She worked at JC Penney and at a tannery in Girard, Erie County.

Surviving are three daughters, Lois Hebert of Ellwood City and Janet Guterry and Ruth Konar, both of Marienville; a son, William H. Merritt and his wife, Helen, of Dover, Pa.; 11 grandchildren, 22 great-grandchildren and nine great-great-grandchildren.

Additional survivors include a sister, Ima Jean Sapala of Conneaut Lake and two brothers, John Leonard of Greenville and William Leonard of Sanford, Fla.

In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by a sister, Lucille Hozack.

<B>MERRITT</B> — Family and friends Ruth S. Merritt, who died Wednesday, Aug. 10, 2011, will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Friday at the <B>Ronald McDonald Funeral Home </B>in Marienville. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday in the funeral home with the Rev. Daniel Richter, pastor of the Marienville United Methodist Church, presiding. Interment will be in Hope Cemetery, Albion.