Ruth Boone, 80, of Edgewood, Maryland, passed away on Saturday, April 4, 2026.

Born in Baltimore, Maryland, she was the daughter of the late Roy Edgar Thomas and Ruth Anna (Pruden) Beaudin. Ruth was the beloved wife of Paul Jerome Boone, Sr., with whom she shared a lifetime of love and partnership.

She is survived by her devoted husband, Paul Boone, Sr.; her children, Paul (Deborah) Boone, Jr., Raymond M. (Lisa) Boone, Sr., and Paula A. (Paul) Abramson; and her sisters, Kathy (Pete) Gatch and Dawn (Jake) Jakum.

Ruth’s legacy lives on through her cherished grandchildren: Raymond Boone Jr. (Erica), Angela O’Connor (Dan), Shiryl Smith (Donnie), Brittany Bullinger (Ricky), Billy Peyton, Sara Abramson, Bryan Abramson, Bethany Abramson, Kristin Tackett (Daniel), and Nicholas Boone (Stefani); and her beloved great-grandchildren: Sarah, Kellan, Everly, Makaiya, Deonnie, DJ, Ella, Aria, Aleena, ‘lil Ricky, Reya, Ben, Mason, Marleigh, Kylie, and Addison.

Ruth spent the majority of her life in Edgewood, where she became a familiar and respected presence in the community. She dedicated over 40 years as a public school bus driver serving the Edgewood and Joppa areas, where she not only safely transported generations of children but also mentored and trained new drivers. Prior to that, she worked as an armed guard for Brinks and at the Peach Bottom Nuclear Facility—roles that reflected her strength, independence, and sharp instincts.

Known for her sharp wit, strong will, and unmistakable presence, Ruth could keep anyone in line when needed—but those closest to her knew her softer side. With family, especially her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, she was gentle, patient, and deeply loving.

Ruth was a woman of many talents. She was a crack shot and an avid fisher, skills she especially enjoyed showing off during her time spent in Tennessee. Whether outdoors or at her sewing table, she took pride in everything she did. She could sew, crochet, and quilt with ease, and there was rarely a piece of clothing she couldn’t repair. She found joy in reading and spent time volunteering at the Edgewood Public Library. She also had a creative eye behind the camera, capturing moments and memories throughout her life.

She loved the simple, meaningful things—picking strawberries with her children, making her well-loved strawberry preserves, canning vegetables, and tending to flowers, especially roses and anything that bloomed in the spring and summer.

Ruth’s life was defined by her strength, her independence, her devotion to family, and the quiet, everyday ways she showed love. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her siblings, Cora, Naomi, and Patrick.

Her grandchildren and great-grandchildren were the true light of her life—her greatest joy, her proudest legacy, and the ones she loved most deeply. That love will carry on in each of them, every day.

Contributions may be made in her memory to Harford County Public Library’s, HCPL Foundation.