Lena Ruth (Fivecoat) Scott

Lena Ruth (Fivecoat) Scott, 96, of Gnadenhutten, passed away peacefully on Tuesday morning of November 21, 2023, at Riverside Manor in Newcomerstown.

Ruth was born at home in Port Washington on Cornet Avenue on March 10, 1927, to the late Homer C. and Forest (Woodard) Fivecoat.  She graduated from Newcomerstown High School in 1945.  After graduation, she traveled to the San Francisco Bay/Oakland Bay area and worked for the government to support the war effort.  She later married Clyde McDonald Scott in 1947 and had 4 children.  She returned to Ohio in 1959. She began working at the Port Washington School as a secretary, then became the "first female bus driver in the state of OHIO" for the Gnadenhutten school.  She worked most of her life as an office clerk at various places, retiring in 1987 from ODOT after fifteen years there.  

Although a resident of the area for most of her life, Ruth was a traveler. She loved Alaska and spoke often of her adventures working there while camping in her beloved RV.  One memory that was a favorite of hers was when a friend tricked her into meeting them. They went on an airplane ride to take supplies to one of the outposts in Denali, Alaska, where they flew over herds of elk as well as all of the beautiful countryside.  She had many groups of RV friends that she would make plans to meet up with all over the United States.  One of the gals that traveled with her had a piano built into her RV and they would have sing-a-longs!  She definitely had a sense of adventure and never knew a stranger.   She visited all fifty states, driving to most, and went to Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, Canada and the Fiji Islands. 

She was a member of the Gnadenhutten United Methodist Church and she also took part in the Ohio Wagon Train.  On the Ohio Wagon Train, she was able to make new friends, but enjoyed this time mostly with her family.  Her brothers, nieces, nephews, and grandchildren made these trips extra special.  Another adventure in which she took great pride in was her time spent helping with Habitat for Humanity, where she worked on many projects and of course made new friends.

Surviving are her children: Susan Jean (Antonio) Scott-Vargas of Cordova, Mexico, Stephan Dean Scott of Dover, and Peggy Ann (Michael) Jasper of Carmel, Indiana; grandchildren: David Pete (Alona) Stackhouse, Stephan Michael (Jamie) Scott, Lindy (George) Campbell, Kristy (Daniel) Brown, Shea Zurfas, Ashlie (Amos) Adsit, Ryan Jasper, and Shannon Buja; six great-grandchildren, many nieces and nephews, and her  brothers: Gary (Jean) Fivecoat of Delaware, and John (Karen) Fivecoat of Port Washington. 

Ruth is preceded in death by her parents, one brother, Carl Fivecoat, a son, Robert Charles Scott, and a grandson, Eric Scott.

Calling hours will be Friday, November 24, 2023, from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm at Koch Funeral Home of Gnadenhutten, 244 N. Walnut Street, 44629.  Funeral service, also at the funeral home, will be held on Saturday, November 25, 2023 at 11:00 am with Pastor Jimmy Stull officiating.  Burial will follow at Gnadenhutten-Clay Union Cemetery. 

Memorial contributions may be made to The Salvation Army or Habitat for Humanity.  Online condolences may be left for the family at www.kochfhgnaden.com. 

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