Obituary of Ruth Elizabeth Karl

Ruth Elizabeth (Smith) Karl, 88, passed away on Thursday January 13, 2022 at her home in New Carrollton, MD after a long struggle with dementia.  Ruth was born September 1, 1933 to William L. Smith and E. Naomi (Ohl) Smith and attended St. Gabriel grammar school and Theodore Roosevelt High School in Washington, DC.

Ruth married Gerald M. Karl in 1955 and had five children, settling in New Carrollton in 1962.  She tragically lost her husband to a heart attack in 1973 and raised her young family as a single parent.  She loved spending time surrounded by her family and the many cats and dogs she adopted throughout her life.

Ruth is survived by her children Barbara, John (Michelle), Richard, Christine Harmon and Nancy Amoss (Lee); seven grandchildren Emily Knox (Devin), Joshua Karl (Rebecca), Hayley Karl, Bradley Karl, Sean Harmon, Julie Amoss and Zachary Amoss, along with many nieces and nephews.  She is preceded in death by her husband Jerry, her parents, and her siblings Frederick, Margaret, Mary, Helen, Thomas, Alfred and Anne.

She will be greatly missed.

Memorial contributions may be made to Alzheimer's Association - https://www.alz.org or PG County Humane Society - http://www.pgspca.org/give/donate/