Ruthe Martha McAllonis Wainwright of Seaford, DE, died peacefully in her home at the Manor House on Tuesday, January 19, 2021.  She was born in Camden, NJ on October 20, 1924 to the late George W. and Gertrude L. McAllonis.

 

Ruthe was a Registered Nurse, a graduate of the Thomas Jefferson University College of Nursing in Philadelphia, PA.  She worked as a public health nurse for several years in southern NJ before marrying J. Frank Wainwright and moving to Seaford in 1950. 

 

Ruthe and Frank owned The Right Oil Company of Seaford and Selbyville for many years until shortly before Frank’s death in 1983.  She also worked as a school nurse in the Seaford schools, primarily at the Fredrick Douglass Middle School.  She remained close friends with many of her “Freddy D.” colleagues for the rest of their lives.

 

Ruthe was very active in Soroptomist International of Seaford and the Seaford Historical Society. She served on the Vestry of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Seaford and St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Georgetown.  She was a highly competitive bridge player and she loved to travel. She was adventurous in her travels, visiting Russia, China and Cuba, and cruising through the Panama Canal.  She traveled to five of the seven continents in addition to almost every state in the US.  Some of her children’s and grandchildren’s fondest memories are of the wonderful family trips she generously sponsored.

 

Ruthe is survived by her daughter Leza Wainwright and son-in-law Gene Byrd of Raleigh, NC; her son George Wainwright and daughter-in-law Lea of Middletown, DE; three grandsons and a granddaughter, Chad Aycock, Lex (Thomas), Ben and Eliza Wainwright. 

 

Arrangements are by Cranston Funeral Home, Seaford.  Due to COVID-19 precautions, there will be no public service.  In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Delaware Hospice, 100 Patriots Way, Millsboro, DE 19963.