Ruth Van Duyne Tait

Ruth Van Duyne Tait

Ruth Van Duyne Tait, of Mechanicsburg, PA, and formerly of West Chester, PA, passed on Saturday afternoon, June 10, 2023. She was born on October, 16, 1925 in Newark, NJ and grew up in Nutley, NJ.

She met the love of her life, William P. Tait, Jr, while she was a student at New Jersey College for Women, now a part of Rutgers University. She graduated with a BS degree and took a job with Cornell University as a home demonstration agent in Cooperstown, NY. She married Bill Tait and they settled in Camden, NJ where she taught junior high math and science until she became a mother. They moved to Haddon Heights, NJ, to start raising their family where Ruth got involved with community groups including American Association of University Women. In 1958 they moved to West Chester, PA where they lived most of the rest of their lives. Ruth was very involved with Girl Scouts as a leader and a leader-trainer. She was known as someone who never turned away a girl who wanted to be a scout.  Ruth was a substitute teacher in the West Chester schools, primarily in the junior high/middle school grades and eventually became a full-time teacher specializing in math and science. She was active in Beta Sigma Phi, and the West Chester United Methodist Church. She was also a dedicated lap swimmer, and miniaturist who specialized in building ¼ inch/foot scale model furnished houses. She moved to Mechanicsburg in 2014 where she became active in bridge groups, reading groups and served as a Bethany Village ambassador. She loved travel with her husband and spend time with her four grandchildren and eight great grandchildren.

Ruth is survived by daughters Nancy V. Tait and Susan K.T. Cunningham and son-in-law Glenn K. Cunningham. She is predeceased by her parents: Stanley Winans Van Duyne and Ruth Estelle Kingston Van Duyne and her brother, John P. Van Duyne.

Many thanks to the kind people at Bethany Village, Asbury Home Services, Homeland Hospice, and Live-In Care of Central PA for their loving care.

A visitation is scheduled for Saturday, June 17, 11 am-1 pm at Bethany Village.  A future memorial service is being planned.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in celebration of Ruth’s life can be made to a charity of one’s choice.

Ruth’s family has entrusted her care to Buhrig Funeral Home & Crematory in Mechanicsburg, (717) 766-3421.  Read Ruth’s full obituary, view her memorial video and photograph, offer condolences and sympathy, share stories and memories, upload photographs and videos, light a candle and sign her official guest book by visiting Buhrig.com.