Obituary of Ruth M. Gates

A memorial service will be held at the Westside Methodist Church, Hopatcong, at 11:00 AM on Saturday, October 10, for Ruth M. Gates of Hopatcong, who died this past Thursday, September 17. She was 89. Rev. Michael Williams will officiate. A private entombment service will be held for the family. Ruth Gates was born Ruth Alva Riley, May 31, 1920 in Bloomfield, New Jersey to A. Morton Riley and Leauvenia Riley ne: Collins. Married to G. Wood Mears in February of 1944, they moved to Fairfield, New Jersey in 1954 where they raised 3 sons: James H. Mears of Washington, DC; George W. Mears, Jr. of Oregon, and Richard R. Mears of California. "Woodie" passed away in May of 1972. Ruth married John R. Gates in December of 1973 at the Caldwell United Methodist Church, where they were both longtime members. They moved to Hopatcong in 1975 where they have lived ever since. While married to John Gates, Ruth was instrumental in the revitalization of the Hopatcong Woman's Club, and had been active in Woman's Club for over 50 years. She co-chaired the committee that raised funds for and built the pedestal clock that now stands at the Hopatcong Town Hall. She was a member of the New Jersey Ceramics League with her husband, John, with a main interest in antique doll reproductions. She owned her own ceramics studio, and shared her love of ceramics with others through classes at her home. She was a staunch supporter of her husband John during his tenure as Commodore of the Lake Hopatcong Yacht Club, and President of the Ladies Auxiliary. Ruth graduated from Bloomfield High School and later attended William Paterson College, where she earned her Masters in Art. During the time when her sons were at home, she was active in Boy Scouts of America and was one of the original board members of the West Essex Regional High School, where she was also an art teacher. Besides her husband, John, and three sons, Ruth is survived by an extended family that includes her brother, A. Morton Riley, II of Verona, NJ and his family, Janice Gates Bushold of New Hampshire and her family, Robert Gates of North Carolina and his family, and eight grandchildren.