Ruth Naomi Spahr

Ruth Naomi (Landis) Spahr, 85, of Lititz, PA, passed away on Friday, January 3, 2014, at Landis Homes, Lititz, PA. She was the loving wife of J. Robert Spahr to whom she was married for 65 years. She was a member of Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church, East Petersburg.
Naomi was the daughter of the late Abram and Mabel Landis. A self-taught businesswoman, she ran Spahr’s Century Farm Bed and Breakfast for 13 years. She loved her guests and had many repeat customers who were drawn by her warmth.

Also an avid advocate for agriculture, she served as the past president of the Lancaster County Farmers Union, was a 4-H leader and was a founding member of the board of directors of the Pennsylvania Dairy of Distinction. She particularly enjoyed traveling to Washington, D.C. to lobby Congress about agricultural issues. She was a witness to history, having been in the Rayburn House Office Building on 9/11.

She was also an ardent camper and was a member of Our Gang camping group. She enjoyed spending winters in Panama City Beach, FL. She was a familiar face at the Penn Township polling place, where she worked for years.

Naomi is survived by her husband J. Robert Spahr, two children, James Spahr, husband of Judy (Westley) Spahr; and Joanne Spahr Welsh, wife of Donald Welsh, four grandchildren, Jeremy and Christopher Spahr, Rachel and James Welsh and four great grandchildren: Jordan, Laiken, Ashton and Treson Spahr. She was preceded in death by her brother, Mervin Landis and sister, Vesta Ebersole. She was a wonderful mother and will be greatly missed by her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend her funeral service at Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church, 1905 Broad Street, East Petersburg, PA on Saturday, January 11, 2014 at 11:00 AM. Interment will be in the adjoining church cemetery. Friends may visit with the family at the church on Saturday morning from 10:00 AM until the time of the service.

Please omit flowers. Those desiring may send contributions in Naomi’s memory to Hospice & Community Care, P.O. Box 4125, Lancaster, PA 17604-4125.