Ruth Bransby (Bird) MacKay passed away peacefully on the 9th of October 2014 at the age of 91. She was born 1923 in Southampton, Nova Scotia (N.S.) to Lew and Viola Bird. Grew up in Amherst, N.S. – graduated from Amherst Senior High and St. Charles Commercial College. She enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force (Women’s Division) during WWII. Married J. Kenneth MacKay from Tidnish Bridge, N.S. in 1948. Moved to the U.S.A. in 1951. Predeceased by her parents, her husband of 43 years and her half-sister, Mora Lavoie of Truro, N.S., her brother Donald of Truro, N.S. and her sons Mike of Kalamazoo, MI and Andy of Bexley, OH. Survived by her sons John of Columbus, and Peter (Sherri) of Bexley, daughter-in-law Robin MacKay of Bexley, five grandchildren – Jimmy, Dena, Jason, Sara (Matt) and Matthew and two great grandsons, Julian and Manley and many cousins, nieces and nephews scattered throughout Canada. Ruth was a long time member of Brookwood Presbyterian Church serving as Sunday school teacher, elder, deacon and on many committees. She was on the church staff as bookkeeper for thirteen years and never stopped volunteering. She was an avid reader and enjoyed playing Scrabble and Cribbage on her computer. She moved to Westminster-Thurber in 1992 where she served on the Spiritual Life Committee for 22 years. Ruth was a charter member of the Bexley Thrift Shop and spent 30 years there, helping raise money for the American Cancer Society to help cure a disease that took her husband, mother, step-mother, sister and several other family members. With a husband who designed and flew airplanes as well as raising four sons, Ruth spent many hours in hockey rinks, Cub Scout meetings, and airfields and loved every minute of it. She was always willing to help and did it with a smile on her face.
A memorial service will be held in the chapel at Westminster-Thurber, 645 Neil Ave, Columbus, Ohio, 43215, on October 25th at 1 PM. Cremains will be buried at a later date in Riverside Cemetery in Tidnish Bridge, N.S. Arrangements by EVANS FUNERAL HOME 4171 E. Livingston Ave. Columbus Ohio.www.evansfuneralhome.net