Ruth A. Byrne

Ruth Ann Byrne, of Peoria, IL, formerly of Bartonville, IL and Winter Springs, FL, passed away on September 15, 2025.

Services will be held at Northminster Presbyterian Church, Peoria, IL on October 3, 2025 with 10 am visitation and 11am funeral to follow. Burial will be in Tonica, IL, at a later date where she will join five generations of her family.

Ruth was born on August 25, 1939, in Tonica, IL, to Dale E Wilson and Dorothy (Withrow) Wilson. She married Thomas Griffith in 1961 in Peoria, IL. He was killed in an auto accident in December 1963. She then married Richard D. Byrne in 1965 in Peoria, IL. Richard died February 8, 2019 in Farmington, IL.

Surviving are her children, Mary Beth (Paul) Breig of Tavares, FL, Richard H. (Sheri) Byrne of Dunlap, IL, and Deborah Lynn (Mike) Hall of Winter Springs, FL; eleven grandchildren: Shane, Brianna, Brittany, Bristen, Stephanie, Jackie, Megan, Michaela, Zach, Cody and Janet; twelve great grandchildren: Johnathon, Arya, MacKenzie, Madelyn, Paul, Beau, Annie, Maya, Malik, Storm, Kieran, and one great-granddaughter on the way.

Her sister, Marcia Lewellen of Peoria, IL , died in 2006. Her sister-in-law, Mary Ellen Byrne of Peoria, IL, died in 2015. Surviving is her youngest sister, Robin (Gary) Galick of Knoxville, TN, three sisters-in-laws, Sue (Chuck) Woolley of Peoria, Carol (Hank) Kellington of Mapleton, IL, Patti (Chuck) Kluenie of Summerfield, FL, and several nieces and nephews.

Ruth graduated from Peoria High School, class of 1957, and Illinois Central College. After completing her college internship at Caterpillar, she worked in IT at Caterpillar. After her husband was transferred to Orlando in 1983, she worked at the University of Central Florida and Bell South, before joining Harcourt Publishing as an IT Project Manager. After retirement, Ruth worked for the Seminole County Fire Department to help create a new patient billing system.

Ruth also served on the Board of Education at Limestone High School for several years, until her family's move to Florida.

Family genealogy was Ruth's passion for many years. She documented the history of each of her grandparent's individual backgrounds, as well as her husbands' family histories. Ruth was a member of the DAR (Daughters of the American Revolution), Peoria Genealogy Society, Seminole County FL Genealogy Society, Valley Forge Descendants and the UDC (United Daughters of the Confederacy).