NORWICH – Ruth C. Diefenbacher, 78, formerly of Rexford Street and Zephyrhills, Fla., passed away peacefully on Thursday, Sept. 2, 2010 at Chenango Memorial Hospital.
Born Dec. 17, 1931 in Oxford, Ruth was the daughter and one of fifteen children of Lee A. and Edna E. (Miles) Williams. She graduated in 1951 from Oxford Academy and worked for Scintilla of Sidney, Norwich Knitting Mill, General Laboratories, Sagecraft, and then Victory Markets for sixteen years. She then worked as an accounting clerk for Procter & Gamble and finally for Simmonds Precision, retiring in 1995 and moving to Florida.
Ruth was a Past President and Life Member of the VFW Auxiliary and a Past President of the Southern Tier County Council. She was secretary of the Norwich Women’s Bowling Association and a member of the Norwich Bowling Hall of Fame (1970). She donated many of her bowling trophies to local children honoring their accomplishments.
On July 29, 1967, in Ithaca, Ruth married Charles E. Diefenbacher, of Norwich, who survives. She is also survived by two daughters and their husbands, Dawn and Don Golden of Oxford, and Diane and Arlyn Shedd of Norwich; two step-sons and their wives, Kevin and Bonnie Diefenbacher of Norwich, and Ronald and Kathy Diefenbacher of N.C.; grandchildren Jessica and D.J. Waterman, Rebecca Holmes, Amanda Holmes, Jeanie and Brian Crandall, Jeffrey Crandall and Brandi Danenberg, Eric and Valerie Diefenbacher, Tara Hartwell, Jennifer and Anwar Saeed, Christine and Mike Cook, Lee Ann Diefenbacher; great grandchildren Addisyn Waterman, Zachary Crandall, Shania Crandall, Josiah Crandall, Sara-Mae Crandall, Gabriel Crandall, Ethan Crandall, Arielle Crandall, Amelia Crandall; and several step-great grandchildren; brothers Donald, David and George Williams; sisters Cornelia Cashman, Marilyn Moore, Myrna Dumond, Thelma Robinson, Muriel Matteson, Catherine Wilks, and Viola Reko. Many nieces and nephews also survive. She was predeceased by brothers Lee Williams, Jr. and Wayne Williams; sisters Shirley Adams and Beverly Black; and granddaughter Melissa Holmes.
A Mass of Resurrection for Ruth will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday at St. Bartholomew’s Church. Burial will take place in St. Paul’s Cemetery. There will be no calling hours.
Contributions in memory of Ruth may be made to the Norwich Fire Department or to the American Cancer Society.
The arrangements are under the direction of the Wilson Funeral Home.  Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting the funeral home website at: www.wilsonfh.com.