Ruth Marie Pecan, 89, of West End, passed away peacefully on Sunday, November 1, 2009, at home. Her husband, Walter H. Pecan, preceded her in death in 1965.

She is survived by her daughter, Ruth Stolting, and son-in-law, Robert Stolting, of West End, as well as her brother, August Zoll, of Cedar Grove, N.J.

Ruth Pecan was born December 8, 1919, in Brooklyn, N.Y. She received a bachelor's degree from Wagner College in Staten Island, N.Y. She then attended and graduated from Katharine Gibbs Secretarial School. She worked at Chase Manhattan Bank in Manhattan, N.Y., until her marriage on June 3, 1945. Interested also in the field of nursing, she worked tirelessly as a homemaker and caregiver to members of her family.

Ruth lived in Glendale, Queens, N.Y., later moving to Locust Valley, Long Island, N.Y. She was an active member of Trinity Lutheran Church, Glen Cove, N.Y., for 45 years, and sang in the church choir for many years.

When her daughter and son-in-law moved south to North Carolina, she also decided to move down in 2001 to enjoy life with them in a carriage house on their farm. She enjoyed the camaraderie of her new friends at Our Saviour Lutheran Church in Southern Pines and felt that these nine years were among the happiest of her life.

Boles Funeral Home of Pinehurst, NC will have visitation on Thursday, November 5, from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. A memorial service celebrating her life will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, November 6, at Our Saviour Lutheran Church with Pastor Scott Homesley and Pastor Pam Northrup officiating. Following this, a graveside service will be held at Maple Grove Cemetery in Queens, N.Y., where she will be laid to rest beside her husband in the family plot.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Our Saviour Lutheran Church, 1517 Luther Way, Southern Pines, NC 28387.