Ruth Ann Hershner, age 84, passed away unexpectedly on March 25, 2024. She is survived by her husband, Carl Hershner, and her sons, Jeffrey Edwards (Sue Wallace) and Larry Edwards (Stephany). Ruth had two granddaughters, Ashlee Paul (Mike) and Carlee Edwards. She was predeceased by her parents, Calvin Nuttall and Dorothy Hastings, and her sister, Peggy Tugwell.

Ruth was born in Mathews County, and moved to Gloucester County after the birth of her first son. She was an active member of the community, joining the Abingdon Volunteer Rescue Squad, gaining certification in the early 1970s as one of the first Virginia Emergency Medical Technicians in Peninsulas region. She went on to become an EMT instructor and she and her husband taught EMT classes for almost 20 years, providing training to many of the rescue squad personnel throughout the Middle Peninsula.

In 1978, Ruth started a full-time job at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science where she worked for 33 years. Starting as a word processing specialist, she mastered each of the new computer publishing programs as they came out, and ended her career as a graphic artist. She was personally responsible for the preparation of many of the Institute’s technical and public documents, earning both immense gratitude and formal recognition by the Institute.

Ruth and her husband traveled extensively through the years, covering almost all of North and Central America, the Caribbean, much of Europe as well as New Zealand and Thailand. She enjoyed watching news reports and recognizing places they had visited.

Her family and friends will always remember her for her generous personality, and her love of holiday gatherings. Her Easter egg hunts, Thanksgiving dinners, and Christmas eve extravaganzas are the stuff of legends, leaving indelible memories of happy times and joyous crowds.

Memorial donations can be made to either the Abingdon or the Gloucester Volunteer Fire and Rescue departments.