Ruth Marie Tidball

Ruth Marie Tidball, 96, of Meadville, passed away peacefully on Saturday, September 5, 2015 at Wesbury United Methodist Community.Ruth was born on March 30, 1919 in Van. She was the daughter of the late James and Sophia Beichner. Ruth was a graduate of Rockland High School and Welch's Business School in Oil City. She married Kennneth Tidball on October 15, 1938. He preceded her in death.Ruth lived most of her life in Franklin where she was an active member of Saint Patrick Catholic Church. She was devoted to the Catholic Daughters of America where she had served as Grand Regent three times and was District Deputy for twelve years. She also organized the Confraternity of Christian Mothers, and was active in the local Girl Scout Troop where she received the St. Anne's Medal from the Erie Catholic Diocese for outstanding services.She is survived by one son, Thomas Tidball, and his wife Carole, of Meadville, daughters, Mary Todd, and her husband Russell, of Erie, and Julie Skelton, and her husband Raymond, of Corry, her ten grandchildren, and her twelve great grandchildren. Also surviving are her siblings, Jim Beichner, and his wife, Minnie, of Oil City, Gertrude Hald, of Cincinnatti, OH, Patricia Farley of Bethel Park, and Joe Beichner, and his wife Beverly, of Knox, as well as many loved nieces and nephews.In addition to her parents, Ruth was preceded in death by her son, Kenneth "Skip", and her siblings, Elmo Beichner, Margaret Rateau, Helen Schettler Branman, and Jean Craig.Funeral arrangements are entrusted to the Gardinier Funeral Home, Inc. Family and friends will be received at the funeral home, located at 1315 Chestnut Street in Franklin, on Tuesday, September 8 from 4:00 to 7:00p.m.. A parish wake service will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday at the funeral home during visitation.A funeral mass will be celebrated on Wednesday, September 9 at 12p.m. (noon) at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Franklin with Monsignor John Herbein, as celebrant. Interment will be in St. Patrick Cemetery.Memorial donations, if desired, may be made to the Girl Scouts of Western PA, 5681 Route 6N, Edinboro, Pa 16412 or www.gswpa.org, or to Saint Patrick Church Cemetery fund, 949 Liberty St. Franklin, Pa 16323.To send online condolences, flowers, cards or for further information, friends and family are invited to visit www.gardinierfuneralhome.com.