Ruth I. Lyon
Odenton Ladies Auxiliary

  Ruth I. Lyon is a Life Member of the Odenton Ladies Auxiliary, with forty-one years service, joining in 1957, and remaining active throughout the years.

  In any Auxiliary or Fire Company, you usually have a Ways and Means Chair and a committee to handle the shopping, preparing, serving, and cleaning up after an event. In the Odenton Ladies Auxiliary, Ruth Lyon is Ways and Means Chair, in addition to her position as President. Ruth has been President since 1995 to the present, but Chair of the Ways and Means longer.

  As Chair of Ways and Means, Ruth has arranged many functions from start to finish. She is a hands-on person and stays on top of everything connected to any event. She coordinates the functions with all the persons involved and sees that their wishes are carried out. She assists in preparing and serving food, decorating the hall, serving the food, etc. and afterwards stays to assist in the clean-up. Many hours have been spent in the hall and kitchen to see that the functions are enjoyed by all.

  The Odenton Ladies cater wedding receptions, parties, county and state meetings, and an array of social events with Ruth in the lead. Odenton’s food is widely recognized and enjoyed by county and state fire companies and auxiliaries, as well as local patrons. The Ladies are asked by the Linthicum Fire Company to prepare the food when they are hosting the Anne Arundel County Firefighter’s Association. Her oyster stew is served at the fire company’s semi-annual Bull/Oyster Roasts and is a big hit with all.

  Under Ruth’s leadership, the Odenton Ladies Auxiliary has raised $15,000 for the Fire Company, purchased a new state-of-the-art bingo machine, and has paid for the painting and sprucing up of the fire hall. At the present time, the ladies are paying for a new heating and cooling system in the fire hall at a cost of $60,000.

  Ruth is also the “in-charge” person taking care of the kitchen for the Odenton Fire Company’s annual carnival in May. She arrives in the kitchen before the others to get all in order for each evening of the carnival. The kitchen raises a lot of money for the Fire Company, but that would not be possible without Ruth’s dedication and expertise.

  In the past, Ruth supervised the preparation and delivery of food and drinks to the Odenton firemen and others at the fire scene. Even now, the ladies prepare food if the firemen are on an extended training session, such as a house-burning.

  In prior years, Ruth has held the position of Vice-President in 1994 and was Treasurer for several years, 1969 through 1972 and 1978.

  Ruth plays an important role in the Odenton Ladies Auxiliary. Her jobs are no small tasks but she cheerfully and energetically tackles them. Without Ruth, the Auxiliary would not be as successful as it is today

Submitted by: Cheryl Wade, Vice-President
May 11, 1998
 

Ruth I. Lyon

Funeral services for Ruth Ione Lyon, 75, will be held at 11 a.m. today at Hardesty Funeral Home, 851 Annapolis Road, Gambrills.

Mrs. Lyon, an Odenton resident for 73 years, died of brain cancer Feb. 12, 2005 at Hospice of the Chesapeake in Linthicum after a four- month illness.

She was born Oct. 24, 1929, in Baltimore.

Mrs. Lyon worked in the shoe department at Wal-Mart in Laurel until recently. She previously worked as a professional upholstery seamstress for 15 years.

Mrs. Lyon was inducted into the Anne Arundel County Volunteer Firefighter's Association Ladies Auxiliary Hall of Fame for being a lifetime member with 48 years of service. She had served as president, treasurer and vice president, a position she held at the time of her death.

Mrs. Lyon was a member of the Odenton Heritage Society and a member and leader of Taking Off Pounds Sensibly 253 of Arundel Mills.

She enjoyed traveling with her friends, devoting time to family, crafting, crocheting, reading, cooking, concerts, word and number puzzles and games.

Mrs. Lyon was preceded in death by her husband of 55 years, Joseph Claude Lyon Sr.; and two brothers, George and Edward "Ebbie" Zuknick.

Survivors include three sons, Joseph "Claudie" Lyon Jr. of Goldsboro, N.C., Gary Lyon of Sarasota, Fla., and Eugene Lyon of Gambrills; two daughters, Mary Heath of Glen Burnie and Lori Snyder of Baltimore; two brothers, Raymond and Larry Zuknick of Sarasota; 13 grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren.