Ruth Thiel

Ruth Mary (Droll) Thiel was born May 31, 1932, to Doris (Miller) and Wilfred Droll in Fostoria.
Ruth was the oldest of five children – Donald (Patricia) Droll, both deceased, Brother Tony Droll, Carol (Howard-deceased) Lutman and Darlene (James) Kitzler. As a child, Ruth excelled at many things, even getting a perfect attendance award, was the top of the class and excelled in FHA-Future Homemakers of America.
Eventually their family moved to their grandfather’s farm outside of Carey, to help with the farm and taking care of them.
On a beautiful spring day with the sun shining and flowers blooming, Ruth married the love of her life, Wilfred Thiel on April 26, 1952. Their love continued to bloom and grow for almost 74 years when Wilfred passed away on Dec. 15, 2025.
Ruth was a very devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister and friend.
Ruth worked side by side with Wilfred working ground, planting fields, driving grain trucks and raising their family of five: Steven (Connie) Thiel, Ronald (Leslie) Thiel, Wilfred Jr. (Katherine) Thiel, Lawrence Thiel and Pam and Jane (Timothy) Wood, all surviving. This brought many grandchildren and great-grandchildren to their lives, which were all the joy of Ruth and Wilfred’s lives.
Ruth has a way of making each and everyone unique, special and very loved with many lipstick kisses.
From a child’s very young age Ruth would share her love for cooking and baking having the kids and grandkids on the kitchen counter or on a step stool with a spoon and bowl mixing up some goodies and making delicious dishes.
There was always room at the table for anyone there whether it was a meal, caramel corn or desserts and homemade ice cream that she and Wilfred always had in the freezer or was just fresh made.
Ruth would influence her family with her proper English, immaculate penmanship, unending faith and good values.
Ruth was truly the matriarch of our family. Ruth would always be coordinated and put together with having her hair and makeup with lipstick in place first thing in the morning often adorned with necklaces, bracelets, glittery clothes earning her name of “fancy grandma” by her great-grandchildren.
Ruth enjoyed many things including cooking, crafts, painting, crocheting, quilting, ceramics, collecting angels and hummingbirds. At Christmas she would bless her family with ornaments and other crafts she created.
Ruth’s hugs were unforgettable as she would draw you in a full body squeeze of love.
She never forgot a birthday or special event in her family’s lives. She was remembered taking pictures with her iPad.
Ruth would pray for her family and prayed many rosaries for them.
Ruth and Wilfred would spend their winters in Frostproof, Fla., enjoying friends and fish fries. Even in her later years with dementia Ruth influenced other people’s lives around her with love and blessings to her family and caregivers. They would say what a wonderful, beautiful, special lady “Ruthie” was.
Ruth was preceded in death by her parents and in-laws, Orbin and Bertha Thiel and brother, sisters-in-law and brothers-in-laws.
Three remaining sisters-in-law, Elinor Thiel, Gertrude Baer and June McAllister are surviving along with numerous children and grandchildren.
Visitation will be held Thursday, July 16, at Snyder Funeral Homes, Denzer Chapel, Marion from 4-7 p.m. The family will welcome friends and family from 9:45-10:15 a.m. on Friday, July 17, at St. Mary Catholic Church, Marion, with a mass of Christian burial to follow at 10:30 a.m. with Father Edward Shikina officiating. Burial will follow at St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery, Marion.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to St. Mary Catholic Church, Marion, Brother Anthony Droll or to Hospice of Wyandot County.
Snyder Funeral Homes of Marion is handling arrangements. Online condolences may be expressed to the family by visiting www.SnyderFuneralHomes.com.