Wellsville, NY - Ruth Ella Stisser, 96, a former resident of 152 Pine Street, passed away on Tuesday, February 27, 2018, at St. James Mercy Hospital in Hornell. She was born on September 15, 1921 in Wellsville, the daughter of Charles W. and Dora (Wesche) Ballerstein. On September 28, 1945 in Shinglehouse, PA she married Howard G. Stisser who predeceased her on May 19, 1998.
Ruth was a 1940 graduate of Wellsville High School. She was employed at the Eclipse Plant in Elmira during WW II. She was a bookkeeper at Citizen’s National Bank in Wellsville from June of 1944 to September of 1945. In February of 1954, Howard and Ruth opened Stisser’s Wallpaper and Paint Store, later renamed Stisser’s Decorators Inc. and moved to 168 N. Main Street. From August of 1981 to December of 1984, Ruth managed Stisser’s Christian Witness Bookstore on E. Fassett Street in Wellsville.
She was a member of the Trinity Lutheran Church in Wellsville for most of her life. She also attended the Full Gospel Church in Wellsville for a number of years. She enjoyed knitting, writing poetry and spending time with her family.
She is survived by a daughter, Patricia (John) Prete of Hornell, two sons, Gerry L. Stisser of Wellsville, and Rev. Lee (Christine) Stisser of Tampa, FL, 12 Grandchildren, 27 great-grandchildren, and 10 great-great-grandchildren, as well as several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by four brothers, Herman, Erwin, George, and Carl Ballerstein, and four sisters, Louise Coleman, Amanda Jones, Clara Stisser and Helen Short.
Friends are invited to call on Saturday, March 3, 2018 from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. at the J. W. Embser Sons Funeral Home Inc. in Wellsville. The funeral will be on Sunday, March 4th at 2:00 p.m. in the Trinity Lutheran Church, 470 N. Main Street in Wellsville, with her son, Rev. Lee Stisser presiding. Burial will be in Woodlawn Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please consider memorial donation to the Trinity Lutheran Church. To leave online condolences, please visit www.embserfuneralhome.com.
