Obituary of Ruth Sparks Wensel Zahner

Mrs. Ruth Sparks Wensel Zahner, 75, formerly of Pleasantville, died Friday morning, March 12, 2010 at the Oil City Presbyterian Home. Mrs. Zahner was born on December 29, 1934 at Pithole, a daughter of the late Elmer and Hattie Fox Sparks. She was married to Richard Zahner on May 22, 1992 who preceded her in death on Dec. 29, 2009. Mrs. Zahner grew up on a farm at Pithole where she attended a one room schoolhouse and was later a graduate of Pleasantville High School, class of 1952. She had been employed at Polk Center as a custodian for many years. She retired in 1997 to devote herself to her husband, children, and grandchildren. She will be remembered as everyone’s Mom, whether they were related by blood or love. Ruth loved to walk and would do so for miles. Many will remember her for her gentle, loving ways. She was always willing to listen to anyone who wanted to talk. She often said a stranger was a friend waiting to happen. She also enjoyed gardening and spending time with her grandchildren. Mrs. Zahner is survived by the following children; Patricia Boeshaar and her husband William of Clovis, NM, Rose Adams and husband Kenneth and Norma Warner and husband Joseph, all of Oil City, John Wensel and wife Michelle and Robin Pusbach and husband Walter, all of Rouseville; 12 grandchildren, Josephine Reedy and husband Richard of Lubbock, TX, Travers Boeshaar of Clovis, NM, Sara Reitz and husband Bret of Franklin, Andrea Miller of Oil City, Isabella and Patrick Adams of Oil City, Everett Wensel of Erie, Alexander Wensel of Oil City, Courtney Dashner of Oil City, Darcie and Robert Jenkins of Oil City, and Hollie Kimes of Rouseville; great grandchildren, Elijah and Isaac of Franklin, Abby, Tessa and Mollie of Oil City; three step-children including Richard Zahner; numerous step-grandchildren; a brother, Warren Sparks of Pleasantville; two sisters, Cory Sparks and Jane Behrens of Pleasantville; and numerous nieces and nephews. In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by two children, Thomas and Lisa Wensel; five brothers, William, John, Emmet, Russell and George Sparks; and two sisters, Phoebe Chambers and Ollie Sporer. Friends may call at the Gordon B. Garrett Funeral Home 303 N. Washington St. Titusville on Sunday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 PM and attend the funeral service there on Monday at 11:00 AM with Rev. William Maher, pastor of Christ Community Church in Oil City, officiating. Interment will be in Fairview Cemetery in Pleasantville. FLOWERS