Ruth Greaser

It is with great sadness to report the passing of Ruth H. Greaser, 92, in the early hours of Monday, September 21, 2015 at Mary Washington Hospital. She was born in Owens, King George County, VA on September 17, 1923, and was the daughter of Florence Henson Osterman and Samuel Henson. Her childhood was very austere during the 1920s where she experienced significant tragedies in her early life. Yet, in short, she overcame these early challenges to accomplish considerable achievements in adulthood. Truly, she personified the rock-solid core values of that generation, as the American television journalist Tom Brokaw so aptly recognized as, The Greatest Generation. After the Japanese attack on the US Naval Base at Pearl Harbor, HI on December 07, 1941, Ruth moved to Norfolk, VA to assist in the war effort of WWII as a civilian seamstress in the manufacture of parachutes for our military. While in Norfolk, she met a handsome 6-ft 4-in, 215-lb USN Radioman 1st Class Edgar R. ‘Moose’ Greaser, Jr. At that encounter, the young sailor was wearing his newly custom-tailored gun-metal blue US Navy uniform. Game over. Simply, it was love at first sight for the young couple. And the rest, as they say sports fans, is history. As an unsung military wife, Ruth made many sacrifices in the defense of this great country through her dedicated support of her husband’s military service in the US Navy. Along their journey, the marriage produced the increased maternal responsibilities of two sons, Michael R. and Raymond D. Greaser. With the two kids in tow from one side of the globe to the other, she selflessly followed her husband from active-duty station to active-duty station from Guam, Mariana Islands of the Western Pacific to Subic Bay, Zambales, Philippines to San Diego, CA to Tripoli, Libya in North Africa to name only a few. All the while, she always managed to provide a warm home for her family in the notoriously rudimentary US Government-issued ‘housing’ of the US Navy at that time. In 1960, after a 20 year career in the US Navy, Ed and Ruth settled down into the stability of civilian life in Fredericksburg, VA. It was here that they acquired something that she had always only ever dreamed of, a house of her own - a home for her family. In Fredericksburg, Ruth became well-known throughout the community as the welcoming hostess of the once iconic Hot Shoppes on old US 1, a fixture of community gathering for dining. She was infamous for greeting everyone with a warm smile and a kind word. And, by the way, Ruth was a wonderful cook in her own right, especially for her infamous Chesapeake crab cakes that were legendary with her family and friends. Over the years, while Ruth was a very independent women, she was a very considerate and most generous person who took great pleasure in the humble, yet all important, domestic activities surrounding the care of her family. Beyond her hobby of collecting children’s dolls and Teddy bears, she thoroughly enjoyed the simple tranquility of tending to her yard and flower gardening. Yet, it must be said that above all else, her greatest and most cherished joys in life were derived from her children, grandchildren and countless friends in the greater community of Fredericksburg. Ruth was, is, one for the ages. She is preceded in death by her husband, Edgar R. Greaser, Jr., her brother, Carroll, and her sister, Virginia. She is survived by her sons, Michael R. Greaser (Carol) of Mechanicville, VA, and Raymond D. Greaser (Anna) of Oxford, MS; four grandchildren, Cathryn and Jonathan of Ruther Glen, VA, and Jessica and Jimmy of Oxford, MS; a sister, Julia Jones of Fredericksburg, VA; a niece, Diane Binns of Fredericksburg, VA; and other nieces and a nephew; and many dear friends. And, she is survived by her most dear daughter, Verne Horton of Fredericksburg, VA. The family will accept visitors from 3 to 5 PM on Sunday, Sept. 27, at Mullins and Thompson Funeral Home. On Monday, Sept. 28, at 10 AM a service will be held at Mullins and Thompson Funeral Home with internment to follow at Sunset Memorial Gardens Cemetary. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to: Saint Jude Children’s Hospital 262 Danny Thomas Place Memphis, TN 38105 Disabled American Veterans 3725 Alexandria Pike