Ruth H. Molony

Ruth Hawkins Dey Molony, 87, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, January 8, 2025 at Centra Lynchburg General Hospital. Ruth was a dearly loved wife, sister, mother, aunt, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend. She made new friends everywhere she lived.

Ruth was born on July 8, 1937 in Richmond, to the late Dr. Robert Preston Hawkins Jr. and Grace Vernon Reynolds.

She enjoyed a bucolic childhood in Clifton Forge, surrounded by the Hawkins and Reynolds families, including grandparents, aunts, uncles and her big brother, Bob. She spent many summers at Camp Mont Shenandoah in Millboro Springs. In 1955, Ruth graduated from Clifton Forge High School and enrolled at Mary Baldwin College; she graduated in 1959 with a Bachelor of Sociology.

Ruth married the first love of her life, Harrison "Bud" Steele Dey, Jr. on October 11, 1959. The couple settled soon after in Staunton, where they raised their two daughters, Elizabeth Reynolds and Preston Anne. Bud and Ruth were married for nineteen years; they enjoyed tennis, beach trips, Sunday picnics in Deerfield, and a close-knit group of lifelong friends. After Bud’s tragic early passing, Ruth married the second love of her life, Joseph Allen Molony, Jr. on June 15, 1985. They raised Joe’s son, Thomas Joseph and Ruth’s granddaughter, Carrie Cretsinger Anderson, while caring for Ruth’s elderly mother. Joe and Ruth were devoted to one another, to their families, to God and to community service. They served countless hours in the Waynesboro community after retirement. After a thirty-five year marriage, Ruth mourned Joe’s death in October 2020.

She loved children and worked as an elementary teacher for many years in Staunton at Thomas Jefferson Elementary School and McSwain Elementary School. Ruth is remembered as a caring and wise educator by hundreds of fourth graders and colleagues in the Staunton area. In addition, Ruth’s special passion was for assisting needy children. She quietly provided transportation, clothing, school supplies, and homework help for children she encountered through her work or church.

Ruth served the community in Staunton and Waynesboro through leadership of a Girl Scout Troop, volunteering at food banks, delivering Meals on Wheels, and volunteering at the Augusta Health Hospice of the Shenandoah House, which she helped found in 2009. She was a life-long Presbyterian, serving at First Presbyterian Church in Staunton and as a deacon and Sunday School teacher at First Presbyterian Church in Waynesboro. Ruth studied her Bible frequently and believed Jesus Christ was her Savior. In later years, she did not miss a Sunday service at Covenant Presbyterian Church in Staunton.

Ruth had considerable hobbies that revealed her creativity, her competitiveness, and her love for family and community. She won awards in flower arranging during her twenty-plus years in the Augusta Garden Club. She was passionate about creating beautiful gardens, sharing horticultural knowledge, caring for the environment, and cultivating her many flower beds. Ruth grew a variety of roses and later in life, enormous dahlias, marigolds, chrysanthemums, daffodils, and lilies. She served and hosted during Staunton's annual Historic Garden Week. In addition, Ruth developed into a talented southern chef who dazzled friends and family with dishes such as shrimp cheese grits, fried oysters, stuffed potatoes, parmesan chicken, cornbread, French onion soup, peach cobbler, baked squash, and tomatoes grown by Joe. She prepared tasty Italian dishes such as spicy meatballs, lasagna, stuffed shells, and marinara sauce. It was commonplace for Ruth to decorate for holidays, set a gorgeous table for her guests and host dinner parties. She had a zest for life and she loved her family and friends through these avocations.

Ruth was a fierce competitor on the tennis court for decades and later, on the golf course. She played a serious game of bridge in couples groups and women’s foursomes into her 70s; whether it was Dominoes, gin rummy, or Mille Bornes, she was in it to win. Finally, Ruth and Bud loved cheering for the Washington Commanders (Redskins) during the team’s sickness and health!

Her family was her greatest devotion. In her final days, Ruth often expressed she wanted to go home to her family. She is described by her family members as a loyal little sister; a faithful, kind, welcoming, steady mother; a wise, loving, and supportive stepmother; a gracious mother-in-law; and a resilient, selfless, compassionate, generous, elegant, wry, smart, loving, and warm grandmother with a great sense of humor.

In addition to her parents and her two loving husbands, she is preceded in death by a nephew, Robert Preston Hawkins IV; a niece, Carmen Hawkins De Cecco; and a sister-in-law, Susan Martin Hawkins.

She is survived by her brother, Robert Preston Hawkins III of Hilton Head, South Carolina; her daughters, Elizabeth Reynolds Dey Stubbs and Preston Anne Dey Harner of Lynchburg; her stepsons, Robert Allen Molony of Conshohocken, Pennsylvania (Kathy) and Thomas Joseph Molony of Greensboro, North Carolina (Susan); her nephew, John De Cecco III of Hilton Head, South Carolina; her grandchildren, Sarah Dey Stubbs (Brendan), Jesse Peter Stubbs, Carrie Cretsinger Anderson, Daniel Steele Kercsmar Harner (Rachel), Jack Roland Crockett Harner, Leo Graff Bowman Harner, Elizabeth Preston Dey Harner, Thomas Elmer Hunsicker, (Krista), Shannon Molony Stewart (Steve), Jodie Molony Davis (Jay), Matthew Shane Molony (Erica) and Michael John Molony; her great-grandchildren, Syrus Kaine Anderson, Finley Shaye Anderson, and Moses Allen Steele Harner; and many Pennsylvania great-grandchildren.

A funeral service will be conducted at 2:00 PM on Saturday, January 18, 2025, at Covenant Presbyterian Church in Staunton with the Reverend John C. Peterson officiating. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service, beginning at 1:00 PM.

Afterward, family and close friends will attend the interment at Thornrose Cemetery in Staunton.

Ruth’s family wants to thank the wonderful staff at The Legacy in Staunton for years of compassionate care, especially Emily Anderson, and Pearls of Life Memory Care in Lynchburg, especially Shana, Net, Kenzie, Taylor, Kristi and Rebecca. Thank you to the nurses and doctors who tenderly cared for Ruth during her final days at Lynchburg General Hospital.

In lieu of flowers, the family encourages a memorial donation to the Augusta Health Hospice of the Shenandoah House (c/o Augusta Health Foundation, P.O. Box 1000, Fishersville, VA 22939).