Ruth Ann (Cummings) Koch

Ruth Ann Cummings Koch, 86 years of age, went to be with the Lord on July 23, 2025. She was born June 7, 1939 in Huntington, WV, the daughter of James Elmer Cummings and Methel Terry Cummings.

She was a graduate of Huntington High School, where she was active in Glee Club, band, and orchestra. Following high school, she graduated as a Registered Nurse from St. Mary's School of Nursing in 1960 and married the Rev. Neal A. Koch. The couple served American Baptist Churches in KY, IL, PA, IN, and OH. Ruth Ann served hospitals in Post Anesthesia Care/Surgery in each of these states. In 1999, the couple retired to Lavalette, WV. They were married 64 years.

Ruth Ann was baptized at Twentieth Street Baptist Church and later joined Fifth Avenue Baptist Church where she was active in the Friendship class. She was an avid gardener, and in her retirement, she was active in the Huntington Garden Club, serving as its President and Regional Director. During her tenure, she wrote and received a grant for a Blue Star Marker Garden. She designed and installed this garden which is located at the Hershel "Woody" Williams VA Medical Center in Huntington, WV.

Ruth Ann was the mother of three daughters, worked full-time, and supported her family, church, and community through her gifts of home making, hospitality, gardening, and volunteering. She was a gifted vocalist, musician, and artist, and played the piano, violin, lyre bells (marching band), hammered and lap dulcimers, and sang in choirs. She was a decorative "Tole" and watercolor painter, flower arranger, and craft artist, and served on the Alumni Committee for St. Mary's School of Nursing.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, and her daughter, the late Laura E. Koch Taylor (IN). She is survived by her brother, J. Frederick Cummings (Linda)(Huntington, WV), two daughters Beth E. Koch Shaffer (Bruce)(OH), and Jayne E. Koch Hoadley (Carl)(IN), two grandsons, Kyle Taylor (IN) and Austen Taylor (IN), great-grandchildren, sisters-and-brothers in-law, nieces and nephews.

Services will be held at Fifth Avenue Baptist Church, 1135 Fifth Avenue, Huntington, WV 25701 on Tuesday, July 29th at noon, with visitation at 11 a.m. Committal will be at White Chapel Memorial Gardens of Barboursville, WV. Flowers or memorial contributions may be sent to the church.