Ruth McCutcheon

Burlington - Ruth Stewart McCutcheon, 69, went to her heavenly home on Sunday, December 11, 2011, after a blessed life of faith and service to her family and her Lord. She died peacefully at home, surrounded by her family. A native of Alamance County, Ruth McCutcheon was the daughter of the late Mildred Hinshaw Stewart Stacey and William Frederick Stewart. She was a member of Redeemer Lutheran Church, where she served as recording secretary for eight years. Ruth graduated from Walter Williams High School in 1960. She attended Elon College, where she pursued her love for learning and interest in education. At Elon, she met Nelson Richard "Dick" McCutcheon of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, a player on the Elon football team whom she later married. Ruth devoted herself to being a mother and grandmother, creating a loving, secure home for her family in many different states where they lived including Pennsylvania, Indiana, Ohio, Florida, Texas and North Carolina. Through the years, she worked as a teaching assistant, career placement representative, church secretary for Front Street United Methodist Church in Burlington, office coordinator for Alamance Dermatology, and as a medical transcriptionist for LabCorp. Ruth loved to cook and was well known by family and friends for the delicious meals and baked goods she prepared with special care and attention. Ruth was good natured and always shared a warm smile and a kind word, showing genuine interest people, both friends and those she would meet in her daily life. She loved to read, wrote beautiful letters, and played the piano for enjoyment. She shared her faith with words of wisdom from Bible passages, many which she knew by heart. Her beautiful spirit, unwavering faith, hope and courage will be remembered by all who knew her. Ruth is survived by her children and grandchildren who cherish her memory: Susa Ruth McCutcheon of Burlington, Michael Richard McCutcheon and his wife, Wendy Tavenner of Rio Rancho, New Mexico and Allison Caryl Teapole of Burlington, and three grandchildren: Brianna Rebecca Teapole, Thomas Michael Teapole, and Garth Michael McCutcheon, her brothers and sisters; William "Junior" Frederick Stewart, Jr., Robert Wayne Stewart and his wife, Linda and Henry Alexander Stewart all of Burlington; Lou Ann Stewart of Burlington and Tammy Stewart and her husband, Butch Rector of Burlington. Ruth was preceded in death by her husband of 27 years, Nelson Richard "Dick" McCutcheon, Her mother and father and a sister, Barbara Harden. A service to celebrate her life will be held on Wednesday, December 14, 2011 at 1:00 p.m. at Redeemer Lutheran Church by Rev. David H. Tessmann and the burial will follow at Alamance Memorial Park. The family will receive friends from 6 until 8 p.m. on Tuesday at Lowe Funeral Home and Crematory and other times at the home.