Obituary of Ruth Foley Ahearn

Ruth Samuelson Foley Ahearn passed away peacefully on April 10th at Elizabeth Church Manor. She was born in Rush City, MN on November 15, 1919. She was predeceased by her parents, Reverend Carl and Mary Samuelson, her brother, Chester, sisters Mildred and Harriet, and her husbands, Donald P. Foley and J. Donald Ahearn. She is survived by her daughter Anne Schofield of Syracuse, NY and sons John (Elizabeth) and Peter (Patrice) of Binghamton, NY, nine grandchildren and five great grandchildren. Growing up the daughter of a Lutheran Minister in Marcus, Iowa, she met Don Foley, son of Irish Catholic parents. They eloped and moved to Binghamton in 1942. Don and Ruth founded Binghamton Material Handling in their living room in 1955 and worked together until he passed in 1977. She continued in the business retiring as Chairman and CEO in 1985. An astute business woman, Ruth served on the boards of Roberson Center, Southern Tier Arts in Education, The Cider Mill Playhouse, WICZ Advisory Board and the Business Advisory Board of the Sun Bulletin. She was a member of Binghamton Rotary #64, the first woman to serve on the Board of the Broome County Chamber of Commerce and the first woman to chair the Harpur Forum. She loved her adopted city and did her best to serve it over the years. Ruth was a loving mother and grandmother, gifted musician, delightful traveling companion and enthusiastic golfer. She loved newspapers, the symphony, the theater and the opera. As a final gift of generosity, Ruth has gifted her body to Upstate Medical Center. Donations in Ruth's memory can be made to the Dr. Garabed A. Fattal Community Free Clinic, c/o Clinical Campus, 425 Robinson St., Binghamton, NY 13904 or the charity of your choice. The family will receive friends at a reception at the Binghamton Club on May 13th from 11:00 AM until 2:00 PM. Please join us to share your memories. At our mother's request, the last line of her obituary is: 'If only she could putt!'