Emma Ruth (Kunkle) Loughner, 96, of Irwin and a resident of Redstone Highlands, Greensburg, passed peacefully from this life Saturday January 26, 2019. She was born October 12, 1922 in Irwin. She was the last of an incredible family of siblings that were all inspired and nurtured by their parents the late A.P. and Grace (DeFrance) Kunkle.
She was also preceded in death by her husband Wayne “JoJo” Loughner, a devoted daughter Ruthie G. Diffenderfer, siblings Julia (the late Lou) Menchio, Grace (the late Mac) McEndarfer, Jeanne (the late Paul) Bair, Carl (the late Sal) Kunkle, and William A. (the late Ann) Kunkle; and nieces and nephews Donald (Louise) Painter, John (Alexandra) Kunkle, James Kunkle, and Mary Anne Kunkle (Skip) Leon. Ruth graduated from Norwin High School, class of 1940 and went to work as a secretary for Alcoa in Pittsburgh. Ruth was a member of First Presbyterian Church, Irwin since 1937, where she served as an elder, sang in the choir, was a member of the Women’s Association, and a member of multiple bible study groups.
She also volunteered a great deal of her time to the Norwin Public Library, Redstone Highlands gift shop, and Meals On Wheels. She was 96 years young and always expressed a youthful exuberance. She was also genuinely interested in everything everyone was doing and was a joy to be around, as were each of her brothers and sisters.
She is survived by her son Joe Loughner of Tulsa, OK; son in law Dennis R. Diffenderfer of North Huntingdon; a granddaughter Julie (Adam) Armel of Moon Township; her great granddaughter Ivy Grace Armel; and grandson David Diffenderfer (Lauren Skundrich) of Jeannette. She is also survived by the following nieces and nephews, Daryl Gilder of Rawley, MA, Edward (Ann) McEnderfer of Bloomington, IN, William (Jan) Kunkle of Camillus, NY, Richard (Denise) Kunkle of Brighton, MI, Puran (Susanna) Bair of Tucson, AZ, Polly (Frank) Babik of North Huntingdon, and Paul (Chelsea) Bair of Tucson, AZ. Friends will be received from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday at the William Snyder Funeral Home, 521 Main Street, Irwin, 724-863-1200.
A funeral service will be held at 1:30 p.m. Friday in First Presbyterian Church with Dr. Ronald H. Wakeman, officiating. Interment will follow in Union Cemetery. In lieu of flowers the family suggests a contribution to the Norwin Public Library, 100 Caruthers Lane, Irwin, PA 15642, or Redstone Highlands Benevolent Fund, c/o Lisa Dormire, 3 Garden Center Drive, Greensburg, PA 15601.
The family would like to thank Redstone Highlands for their professional, conscientious, and caring support while Ruth was a resident of their Greensburg facility. For online condolences please visit www. snyderfuneralservices.com.
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