Ruth E. Neargarder, 86 of Coldwater, Ohio and formerly of Frenchtown, Ohio, passed away on Monday March 2, 2026, at 2:40 PM at Briarwood Village, Coldwater, Ohio.

Ruth was born July 9, 1939, in Shelby County, Ohio, the daughter of the late Omer and Emily (Monnier) Schwartz.

Ruth was the Director of Music and Organist for 47 years at Holy Family Catholic Church and St. Mary's Catholic Church. She was a member of Holy Family Catholic Church and attended St. Mary's Catholic Church; she was a member of St. Ann's Sodality, was a CCD Teacher; she loved playing music, working in her flower gardens, helping her husband take care of the cemetery, and she especially loved watching her grandchildren's sporting events.

Ruth is preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Carl. E. Neargarder on May 11, 2016 whom she married July 26, 1958; her son, Bruce Neargarder; her son-in-law, Mike Phlipot; her great granddaughter, Sawyer Shardo; her brothers and sisters-in-law, Robert and Florence Schwartz, Tom and Vera Schwartz, Herb and Patricia Schwartz, and Kenneth and Marie Schwartz; her sisters and brother in-law, Norma and John Jelly; her brothers in-law, Jerry Herron, Norm Wright, and Buddy Barhorst; and friend and companion Leroy Lange.

Ruth is survived by her daughters and sons-in-law, Bonnie and Dale Barhorst of Celina, Reyna and Jerry Shardo of Willowdell, and Sheri and Jon Hoying of Minster; her grandchildren, Brian and Sommer Phlipot, Carl Phlipot and Doug Thrush, Randy and Candace Phlipot, Eric Phlipot, Carrie and Ryan Lamn, Katie and Nick Bruns, Mindy and Justin Coby, Joe and Stephanie Shardo, Jeremy and Sheree Shardo, Jacqueline and Kurtis Thobe, Jacob Hoying, Janae and Ethan Linder, Jenavieve Hoying, Josephine Hoying, Jillian Hoying, Julia Hoying, and Jack Hoying; her great grandchildren, Mia Wilson Cogan Wilson, Brady Phlipot, Cooper Phlipot, Everett Phlipot, Taryn Phlipot, Owen Lamn, Kaden Lamn, Brody Lamn, Harper Bruns, Hadley Bruns, Hayes Bruns, Dylan Coby, Audrey Coby, Zoe Shardo, Camden Shardo, Jaden Shardo, Mila Shardo, Harlow Shardo, Jon Thobe, Juliette Thobe, and Jonah Thobe; her sisters, Mary Clark, and Joan Wright; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday March 9, 2026, at 10:30 AM at Holy Family Catholic Church in Frenchtown with Rev. Fr. Ned Brown Celebrant.   The family will receive friends from 2:00 PM until 6:00 PM on Sunday March 8, 2026, and from 9:00 AM until 10:00 AM on Monday at Bailey Zechar Funeral Home, Versailles, Ohio.

Memorial contributions may be made to Legacy Hospice 2615 Ft. Amanda Rd Ste A, Lima, OH 45804.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.zecharbailey.com for the Neargarder family.