Ruth Archer

Ruth Archer, 91, passed away on Friday, March 22, 2024. She was born on October 8, 1932 outside of Massillon, Ohio to the late Robert and Nettie Kennedy.

Ruth grew up on a farm in the country and graduated from Beach City High School in 1951. After high school, she attended Canton Actual Business College.

She was an active member of Grace United Church of Christ in Massillon and belonged to the consistory. In her younger years she worked at Bud’s Drive In and as a dental assistant for Dr. Cotton 1953-57. Ruth reentered the job market at Kinder Furniture in 1971 and then moved on to the Massillon State Hospital in 1974 until her retirement in 1996. At the State Hospital Ruth held a variety of jobs with her favorite being in the kitchen as a cook and baker. She took a swing at cheerleading during a charity basketball event at the hospital that featured a number of the then current Cleveland Browns. After retirement she did home health care. She then worked with her Son Mick and his Rock Solid Flooring business for 10 years. Ruth was noted for her excellent cooking, baking, and canning. She was an avid card player and loved hunting and finding mushrooms in the Spring.

Ruth is survived by her loving sons, Jon (Leslie) Dwyer and Robert Dwyer; step-daughter, Laurie (David) Harmis; five grandchildren; eight step-grandchildren; one great-grandson, Hudson, three sisters and two brothers.

She was preceded in death by her first husband Eldon Dwyer, whom she married in 1952; and her second husband, Paul Archer, whom she married in 1991; son, Mick (Cheryl) Dwyer; step-son, Ken Archer, one sister and four brothers.

Visitation for Ruth will be on Thursday March 28 from 10:00-12:00 at Paquelet & Arnold-Lynch Funeral Home in Massillon. Funeral proceedings will follow immediately after visitation. A grave side service will then be at Union Lawn Cemetery in Navarre. A luncheon at Grace United Church of Christ, 933 Main Ave. West in Massillon will follow the grave side service.