Ruth Laurel Volkert Marchione

RUTH MARCHIONE, 85

Teacher

LAKE WALES -- Mrs. Ruth Laurel Volkert Marchione of Lake Wales died of heart failure Thursday (Feb. 9, 2006) at home. She was 85.

Born in Cincinnati on July 18, 1920, she came to Lake Wales from Harrison, N.Y., in 1975. She was a retired teacher for the Harrison Avenue Elementary School in Harrison. She was also a director of the daycare center, Children's Aid Society in Manhattan, N.Y. She was active in the American Association of University Women where she organized and chaired the AAUW Bazaar scholarship fundraiser. The Lake Wales branch of the AAUW named a gift in her honor to the Education Foundation fellowship promoting education for all women. She was a member of the Lake Wales Arts Council Board and established the memorial fund as well as the Marchione Endowment Fund. She was honored last year with a life time member award from the Lake Wales Arts Council. She was instrumental in writing the state grant for the Department of Historical Preservation to produce the funds for updating and remodeling the Holy Spirit Cahtolic Church which was purchased by the Arts Council. She was a volunteer for Bok Tower Sanctuary and the Lake Wales Literacy Council.

Mrs. Marchione was preceded in death by her first husband, Vincent H. Caricati; and second husband, Peter Marchione. She is survived by her sister, Shirley Thompson, Nassau, N.Y.

Memorial services will be at 4 p.m. Thursday at First Presbyterian Church in Lake Wales.

Marion Nelson Funeral Home of Lake Wales.