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Ruthann Oberly Howard of Georgetown, South Carolina, died at home Wednesday morning, September 9, 2015. She was the wife of Tommy Howard, retired editor of the Georgetown Times, Waccamaw Times, Inlet Outlook and South Strand News. Born on September 17, 1945 in Easton, PA, she was the daughter of the late Paul Roy Oberly Sr. and Ruth Buss Oberly. She grew up in Hecktown, PA and Milford, NJ. She was active in Girl Scouts for years, church youth group, school and band. She was a graduate of Delaware Valley Regional High School in Frenchtown, NJ. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Education degree from the University of South Carolina in Columbia in 1967. She taught school at Brookland-Cayce Elementary School and at Cusseta, GA. She retired in 2004 from Blue Cross- Blue Shield of South Carolina after a 31-year career. While there she worked as an internal auditor, in administration and in information systems/data processing. She was among the early women who worked in computer processing and was a systems analyst and programmer at the company's Surfside Beach office for 10 years. Following her retirement, she and her husband moved to his native Georgetown. She ran for Georgetown County Auditor in 2004. Keenly interested in civic affairs she served on the board of the Georgetown County Republican Party and was a poll worker for the past decade. She also was a Realtor with the Georgetown Agency and other real estate companies since her retirement. A member of Precious Blood of Christ Catholic Church in Pawleys Island, Mrs. Howard was a member of the PBOC Catholic Women's Club, a past president of the Pee Dee Deanery for the South Carolina Council of Women (SCCCW) and served as secretary, board member and commission chairman for the area and state SCCCW for more than two decades. A convert to Catholicism, Howard and her husband taught a Teen Time religious education program for two years at St. Peter Catholic Church in Columbia in the 1960s. She later was named Catholic Woman of the Year in 1993 for St. Joseph Church in Columbia and in 2003 for St. Michael Church in Murrells Inlet/Garden City Beach. She was also named woman of the year for the Pee Dee Deanery in 2003. Over nearly four decades, she sang in church choirs in Columbia at St. Joseph and St. John Neumann churches, St. Michael at Garden City Beach and St. Mary Our Lady of Ransom in Georgetown. She made her Cursillo weekend in June 2000. She and several other friends formed a prayer shawl ministry called the Knit Whits. The group was featured in an article in the Georgetown Times in May 2008. She was active for many years in Pax Christi, a non-denominational group devoted to seeking peace in the world. She volunteered in many activities at churches wherever her family lived. Howard was a member and board secretary for the Georgetown County Community Forum of the Palmetto Project, an interracial group promoting racial harmony. She supported her son and grandchildren and others in Scouting, church, community and sports activities. She was a supporter of other local groups such as The Village Group, the Swamp Fox Players and more. A long-time member and volunteer for Birthright of Georgetown, she was also a member of Georgetown County Citizens for Life. She participated in many local and statewide pro-life Rally for Life observances of the Roe vs. Wade Supreme Court decision that allowed abortions. She joined other choir members in singing as part of the peaceful protest against that decision and in favor of providing safe alternatives to abortion. She also participated in silent prayer vigils in several communities on Pro-Life Sundays. As a volunteer for Birthright of Georgetown, she assisted women facing an unplanned pregnancy. The organization provides assistance for mothers and mothers-to-be with diapers, formula and other necessities and referrals to other helping agencies to help safeguard the unborn and newborn babies. Survivors include her husband of Georgetown; one son Thomas Howard Jr. (Niki) and three grandchildren, Sydni Thomas, Hayden Howard and Henley Howard; one brother, Paul Oberly Jr. (LaVera) of Country Club Hills, Il; sister-in-law Kathy Mammana Oberly of Columbia, SC; and a number of nieces and nephews; brothers-in-law Larry Howard Jr. (Jean) of Plum Boro, PA; John Howard Sr. (Frances) and James Howard (Carol Teal), both of Georgetown, and sister-in-law Claudia Howard of New Haven, KY. She was preceded in death by her parents of Kutztown, PA; her brother David Oberly of Columbia, SC; and her parents-in-law, Larry and Claudia Howard of Georgetown, SC. A memorial service and funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m. Monday, September 14, 2015 at Precious Blood of Christ Catholic Church, 1633 Waverly Road, Pawleys Island. The family will receive friends and celebrate a Wake prayer service from 5 to 7 p.m. Sunday, September 13, 2015 at Goldfinch Funeral Home, Litchfield Chapel, 202 Hinnant Lane, Pawleys Island, SC. In lieu of flowers and in recognition of Ruthann Howard's commitment to life, memorials are suggested to Birthright of Georgetown, 1905 Front St., Georgetown, SC 29440. Online condolences may be left at www.goldfinchfuneralhome.com. Goldfinch Funeral Home, Litchfield Chapel, is in charge of arrangements.

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Ruthann Howard

September 17, 1945 - September 9, 2015