Ruth Ann Cech
August 18, 1943 ~ April 21, 2020
New Windsor, NY

RUTH ANN CECH - 76, of New Windsor, NY, succumbed to complications due to Covid-19 virus on April 21, 2020. She was born in Sturgeon Bay, WI, the daughter of Elwood and Eunice Kingsbury. She married Captain Paul F. Cech, of USAF, on August 21, 1965.
Ruth Ann graduated from Swedish-American Hospital School of Nursing in Rockford, Illinois, as a Registered Nurse in 1965. She later graduated from SUNY-Plattsburgh, NY in 1994, with a BA in Sociology. She twice was awarded the Brooks Anderson Award for highest GPA in Sociology/Criminal Justice from SUNY-Plattsburgh. She was also awarded the Alpha Kappa Delta International Sociology Honor Society and the Phi Kappa Phi National Interdisciplinary Honor Society. During her twenty years that her husband, Paul, was in the Air Force, Ruth Ann devoted herself to her family wholeheartedly. She involved herself with many organizations, kept their four daughters busy with activities, kept up with correspondence with friends and family, and of course captured special moments in photos with her camera. Following Paul's retirement, as Lieutenant Colonel of USAF, and their move to Peru, NY, Ruth Ann then worked for many years as a Registered Nurse Supervisor on the evening shift at Sacred Heart Nursing Home and then Clinton County Nursing Home, both in Plattsburgh, NY. Due to her compassion and kindness to all, she was highly respected by her colleagues and also the residents. After her retirement, she became active with the United Methodist Church in Harkness, NY.
Ruth Ann will always be remembered for her infectious laughter, smiles, and positive attitude. She loved being with family and friends, canoeing, bowling, hiking, reading, and helping with 4-H projects for the Whispering Pines 4-H Club of Peru.
Survivors include her four daughters: Diana Otis of Lebanon, CT; Susan Cech and her husband, Pete Fleckenstein, of New City, NY; Debra Richman and her husband, Peter Richman, of Saugerties, NY; and Barbara Schwartz and her companion, Juan Carlos Lujin, of Highland Mills, NY; one brother: Gregg Kingsbury and his wife Rebecca Kingsbury, of Janesville, WI; nine grandchildren: Kevin Otis, fiancee of Mindy Rock; Sarah and Naomi Otis; Michael and Thomas Fleckenstein; Jonathan and Ethan Richman; Corporal Ian Schwartz and his wife, Alize Schwartz; and Erin Downs and her husband, Specialist Richard Downs; four great-grandchildren: Cameron Hunter, Zoey Rock, Zaden Otis, and Lunara Schwartz; also three nieces and seven nephews; and of course, her beloved dog, Angel.
She is preceded in death by her parents and her husband. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the American Diabetes Association, www.diabetes.org or the Alzheimer's Association, www.alz.org.