Ruth Evelyn Keener

A funeral service celebrating the life of Ruth Evelyn Keener, age 73, of Granville, will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, December 20, at Criss Wagner Hoskinson Funeral Home with Pastor Bruce Hissong officiating. Burial will take place in Wilson Cemetery.Ruth was born January 18, 1941 in Newton Township, Ohio to the late Ray Edwin and Edna Irene (Lingafelter) Billman. A lifelong resident of Licking County, Ruth was a 1958 graduate of Homer High School. She retired from Newton Elementary School where she had been a cook.In her retirement years, Ruth enjoyed working side by side with her husband on their farm. She also enjoyed organizing McKean class reunions, lunches with classmates, cooking and spending time with her family and friends. She volunteered her time for many years for the McKean Community Organization. Ruth was a member of St. Lukes Lutheran Church in Vanatta.She is survived by her loving husband of 56 years, Anderson R. Keener, whom she married September 21, 1958; three children, Carolyn (Dan) Elder of Granville, David (Bev) Keener of Granville and Debra (Wayne) Buttry of Albuquerque, New Mexico; five grandchildren, Jennifer Keller, Brian Elder, Ashley Baker, Kelsey McLaughlin and Nathan Buttry; eight great-grandchildren, Henry Keller, Landon, Lincoln and Lane Elder, Riley, Sadie, Cody and Ellie Baker; and a sister, Kathaleen Vincent of Scottsboro, Alabama.In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her loving grandparents who helped raise her, Harry Buck and Mabel Lingafelter.Friends may call from 6-8 p.m. on Friday, December 19, at the funeral home, 179 Granville Street, Newark.Criss Wagner Hoskinson Funeral Home is honored to care for the Keener family.