POLAND - Ruth Cottom, 90, passed away peacefully early Friday Morning, May 15 at Hospice House in Poland due to infirmities of age. Ms. Cottom was born on August 9, 1924 in Scottdale, PA, a daughter of J. Walter and Grace (Stouffer) Cottom. She moved to North Lima in 1931 and later to Columbiana in 1994. A 1942 graduate of North Lima High School, Ruth earned a BS in Elementary Education from Youngstown College. She taught elementary school in North Lima for 3 years before dedicating her life to being a librarian with the Public Library of the Youngstown and Mahoning County, where she was employed for 40 years. The Vindicator, in writing a piece about her, stated that "Miss Cottom was a teacher who quite possibly was born to be a librarian." The North Lima library, where she worked from 1945 to 1967, is now in Western Reserve Village at the Canfield Fairgrounds. She touched many lives with her presence at the library. Ruth belonged to the Columbiana Women's Club, the Columbiana Garden Club, the Readers Guild, and the Columbiana Search Light Book Club, was a Charter member of the Public Employees Retirees, Inc., and went to the Christian Women's Club. She was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Columbiana. She leaves to cherish her precious memory her brother Robert Cottom and his wife Jean of Charlotte, NC; niece Mary Ellen Ratko of Valencia, CA; nephews Robert W. (Nancy) Cottom, Jr. of Charlotte, NC, Brian O. (Dana) Cottom of Matthews, NC, Mark Cottom of Centerville, OH and Ronald Cottom of Glendora, CA; as well as many great nieces and nephews. Ruth was preceded in death by her parents and two brothers, Vernon and John. Memorial services will be held on Saturday, May 23 at 11:00 a.m. at First Presbyterian Church of Columbiana, with Reverend Fritz Nelson officiating. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations may be made in Ruth's memory to the First Presbyterian Church of Columbiana, 28 E. Park Ave., Columbiana, OH 44408. The family has entrusted Seederly-Mong & Beck Funeral Home in Columbiana, Ohio with the arrangements for their loved one. Family and friends are invited to visit www.seederly-mongandbeck.com to sign the guestbook or send private condolences.