October 31, 1938 – October 18, 2022

Our beloved Ruth Baker Joseph Mecklin has gone home to the loving arms of her first husband, and of her parents, after a multi-year struggle with a number of health conditions. She passed, mercifully, while peacefully sleeping.

Ruth was a first-generation American, born in Philadelphia, the daughter of immigrants, both of whom passed through Ellis Island seeking better lives. Her mother, Anna Christina Risko was born in 1899, in the village of Margecany, in what is now Slovakia, as the 2nd of 6 siblings. She arrived in New York in 1900. Her father, John Lewis Baker, was born in 1885, in the city of Manchester, England, the youngest of at least 6 siblings, the first 5 of whom were born in Lithuania. He arrived in New York in 1905.

With this heritage, Ruth was a proud member of Daughters of The British Empire (DBE), and the Czech & Slovak Society. But mostly she was a lifelong and proud Philadelphian, who loved a good Mummers Strut and healthy cheesesteak. She was very happy to hear about the Eagles winning their 6th straight game before her passing.

Born on Halloween, October 31, 1938, Ruth was fond of pointing out that this was the night of H.G. Wells' famous "War of the Worlds" radio broadcast, leaving many believing the Martians had landed in New Jersey!

Ruth attended public schools in West Philadelphia, graduating from John Bartram High School in 1956. Her parents wanted the very best for their only child, and Ruth was the first in her family to attend college, graduating from the Ivy League's University of Pennsylvania in 1960 with a BA in English Literature. While there, Ruth was a member of the Chi Omega sorority. She has been a proud, contributing Penn alum, and involved herself in reunion committees for several decades.

Ruth met and fell in love with Ronald Evans Joseph during her college years, marrying him in 1960 at St. Mark's Episcopal Church, just a few blocks from Rittenhouse Square, on Locust Street in Philadelphia.

Later that year, Ronald was ordained an Episcopal priest, and Ruth began her life as a "preacher's wife," at Trinity Episcopal Church (Ambler, PA), then subsequently at St. James the Less Episcopal Church (East Falls section of Philadelphia), and St. Martin's Episcopal Church (Boothwyn, PA). In this capacity, she was highly involved in the community of parishioners served by her husband and led a number of initiatives to contribute to community support.

Ruth, meanwhile, had her own career of variety and meaning. She started out as a lighting specialist at Philadelphia Electric. After a short hiatus to raise her two babies, she returned to work in lighting retail at Gimbels and Clover department stores. Ruth also worked at Girard Bank in customer service, then worked as an activities specialist at Bishop Nursing Home, and finished her long career as a teacher's assistant at Nether Providence Middle School.

She retired to care for her husband full-time as he declined from cancer. She did this, all the while a recovering breast cancer survivor herself! In 1994, after 34 years of marriage, her husband Ronald predeceased her at the young age of 58.

Ruth was one to have a regular calendar of social events with family and friends. She was a great listener, fun to talk with, an avid reader of history and fiction, a lover of music both classical and contemporary, a chorister with the Delaware County Community Chorus and the Mary Green Singers, a Scottish dancer with the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society, a fine diner, an amazing cook and baker, and a world traveler. She never stopped educating herself, and was enrolled in the Osher Academy of Lifelong Learning. She was a gardener of beautiful flowers and delicious vegetables. She loved and cared for many adopted cats. She was curious, well-informed, and world-wise. But her main focus, on top of all of this, was spending quality time with her children and grandchildren.

Ruth's ultimate involvement at Christ Episcopal Church (Media, PA) led to meeting James Ronald Mecklin, whom she married in 2001. Ruth and Ron spent more than two wonderful decades together, traveling, dancing, dining, enjoying the company of their friends at their beloved Fox Hill Farms community, and taking care of each other. Ron was a true blessing to Ruth's life, and she loved him dearly.

Ruth was a Life Giver – raising children, pets, gardens, grandchildren, and nurturing the love of knowledge, and the love of the arts, in her world.
Despite her petite physical stature, she was a conqueror of the world as well - fearless, encouraging risk, infusing positivity, curious, and tough in the face of adversity. She was proud of her British "stiff upper lip." Yet she had one of the best senses of humor around. She traveled behind the Iron Curtain with her choir before the Soviet Union was dissolved, and she invited and hosted exchange students and immigrant families to stay in her home as they got settled into their new lives.

Ruth was an Angel Straight from Heaven who blessed us all with her time here on earth – and now she's gone home, where she's making a comfortable, memory-filled place, to welcome the rest of us some day.

Ruth is survived by her second husband, James Ronald Mecklin of Glen Mills, PA; her son David Thomas Joseph and daughter-in-law Sally Sherman Joseph, of Chapel Hill, NC; her daughter Elizabeth Anne (Joseph) DeCastro and son-in-law Luiz Fernando Weber DeCastro, of Parkland, FL; as well as four grandchildren -- Christopher David Joseph, of Kacey, SC; Evelyn Kay Joseph, of Arlington, VA; Mark Weber DeCastro, of Orlando, FL; and Nathan Weber DeCastro of Parkland, FL. Ruth is also survived by her sister-in-law, Ellinor Horn Joseph, her nieces and nephew and their families, Maria Joseph Nash, William Joseph, and Lauren Joseph Anlauf, along with their spouses, respectively, Brad Nash, Julie Joseph, and David Anlauf, their kids, and grandkids, and a host of other cousins in New England and Mexico, and great and great-great nieces and nephews throughout the country, and their spouses. Ruth also counts among her family members the daughters of Ronald Mecklin (Dee and RoneDel), as well as their children and grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Christ Episcopal Church in Media, PA. For those wishing to honor her memory in more secular ways, a donation in her name to a favorite museum, music program, dance ensemble, or library would also reflect the things important to Ruth.

Ruth's remains will be joined with those of her first husband, in the grounds of Christ Episcopal Church in Media, PA, on Saturday, November 5, 2022. Visitation will begin at 10:00 am. Her Requiem Mass and Interment will be held at 11:00am.

Arrangements provided by Rigby Harting & Hagan Funeral Home 15 E. 4th Street Media, PA 19063
www.haganfuneralhome.com