Ruth Matthews Alger

Ruth M. Eglseder Alger, 87, passed away early in the morning on Thursday, September 20, 2018, at Candle Light Cove Assisted Living Facility in Easton as a result of Alzheimer’s disease and breast cancer. She was most happy when she was with her boys. Her surviving sons were with her when she finally had to say goodbye. Ruth was born on January 2, 1931, in Cambridge, MD. Ruth was the only child of Emerson and Edna Matthews. Ruth attended Dorchester County Public Schools. She graduated from Cambridge High School in 1948. She was known to her friends from school as Ruth Edna. She attended Hood College in Frederick, MD, where she was a voice major. She graduated in the spring of 1952 with a Bachelor's of Arts degree in music. After college, she taught in Baltimore City Public Schools for several years. While teaching in Baltimore, she met her first husband and the father of her four boys, Ludwig J. Eglseder, Jr., M.D. He was in medical school at the time. When he finished medical school, they lived for a year in St. Petersburg, FL, where he did his internship to become a general practitioner. Ruth had her first son in Florida and, shortly thereafter, returned to Easton to begin raising her family. For many years, Ruth was a stay-at-home mom, and, with four sons, was very busy. In early 1967, the family moved to St. Michaels, where they lived until 1984. On top of her duties as a mom, for many years she was the director of the junior choir at St. Marks United Methodist Church in Easton. When the family moved to St. Michaels, she continued as the director of the junior choir at St. Marks. Simultaneously, she was also the director of the junior choir at Christ Episcopal Church in St. Michaels. She continued her duties at both churches for several years, then stopped at St. Marks and later at Christ Church. She loved the girls in her choirs. When her sons grew older, she again began to teach and was the music teacher at Easton Middle School for many years. When she retired from teaching, she worked as a realtor until she finally retired. Ruth loved all of her son’s friends and was affectionately referred to by all of them as “Miss Ruth.” There was always plenty of food and an extra seat at the table. All of our friends knew that they always had a second mom. She married her second husband, Shirley K. Alger, in 1993, and they were happily married until his death in January of 2015. They loved one another deeply, and he always called her “sweet pea” with his beautiful baritone voice. She missed him terribly when he was gone. Ruth was so very kind and loving. Many years ago, one of her sons asked her what she believed in. Without hesitation or equivocation she replied, “I believe in the truth and the power of love.” She lived her life accordingly and all who knew her were the beneficiaries of her love. She will be greatly missed. In addition to her parents and her husband, Shirley, Ruth was preceded in death by her youngest son, Kurt, who was most special. Ruth is survived by her remaining three sons, Ludy and his wife, Kim; Matt and his wife Kathy; Scott and his wife, Julie. She was grandmother to Sarah and Aaron, Brandon, Kristin and Cory; Matthew and Caroline; David, Jenika, Josh and Tim. Her great-grandchildren are Aiden, Gavin, Lily, Jackson, Corbin, Isla, Kace and Sadie. Visitation with the family will be held at St. Mark’s United Methodist Church in Easton on Friday, September 28, 2018, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Ruth’s memorial service will be held at St. Mark’s on Saturday September 29, 2018, at 11 a.m. Interment will take place at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Ruth’s honor to Talbot Hospice, 586 Cynwood Drive, Easton, MD 21601.

Ruth Matthews Alger

January 2, 1931 - September 20, 2018