Ruth Witham Clark Shappell passed peacefully from this life on July 27, 2023 while surrounded by loving family.

Born April 14, 1936 to Lewis and Avis Davis of Norway, Maine, Ruth was adopted shortly after her mother's death in 1938 by Harley and Mary Witham of Oxford, Maine. She attended Oxford Schools and graduated from American School in Chicago.  She earned her Bachelor's Degree in Special Education from Southern Connecticut State College in 1966 and a Master's Degree in Special Education from the College of William and Mary a few years later.

Ruth taught special needs students for 21 years in the public school system and then 3 years in private education. She served on the Board of Directors for the Puller Vocational Center in Saluda, Virginia. Camping, riding motorcycles, scrapbooking and making greeting cards were pursuits she enjoyed. Ruth and her late husband, George, were members to the Retread Motorcycle Club and the Gold Wing Road Riders in Hampton, Virginia.

She was a member of Bacon's Castle Baptist Church of Surry, Virginia and served as the Nursery Director for 15 years as she had also done in her previous church in Norwalk, Connecticut.

She was preceded in death by her birth parents and siblings, adoptive mother Mary Libby, husband George Clark and grandson Patrick Britt.  Left to cherish her memory are loving husband William C. Shappell; daughter Deanna Britt (Stephen) of Lynchburg, great grandchildren Courtney Britt and Haleigh Umphlette (Ryan), Patrick and Natalie Cheek, grandson Aaron Britt (Becky) of Martinsdale, Montana,  great grandchildren, Tyler, Katelyn (Zach), Abigail, Baker, James and Lyda; Grand-daughter Dr. Amanda Britt of White Sulpher Springs, Montana and great grandchild Maxine Britt, grand-daughter Ashley Myers (Vincent) of Sierra Vista, Arizona and great grandchildren Lydia and Ruthie; daughter Joan Clark of Frankford, Delaware, grandchild Jeremy Adkins and great grandchildren Nathan and Alex; grand-daughter Sarah Lowe (Doug) and great grandchild George; sisters Patricia Valley of Oxford, Maine, Sarah Cole (Ron) of Florida and brother David Witham (Doris) of Oxford, Maine.

The family will receive friends at 11:00 AM on Monday, July 31, 2023 at W. J. Smith & Son Funeral Home, Newport News followed by a funeral service at noon. Burial will follow in Peninsula Memorial Park. Arrangements by W. J. Smith & Son Funeral Home.