Ruth (Mcgowan) O'Connell

WILKES-BARRE-Ruth O'Connell, 90, of Wilkes-Barre, passed away Thursday at Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center, Plains Township. Born in Wilkes-Barre on November 24, 1918, she was a daughter of the late Thompson W. and Jennie May (Johnson) McGowan. She was a 1936 graduate of G.A.R. High School. Mrs. O'Connell was a member of Westminster Presbyterian Church. She was an avid reader. She was preceded in death by her husband, Melvin O'Connell; grandson Brent K. O'Connell; sisters Louise Koons, Clara Miller, and Bessie Ott; brothers William McGowan and James McGowan. Surviving are her sons, Barry G. O'Connell and his wife, Jane, Roaming Shores, OH; Brent J. O'Connell, M.D. and his wife Georgette, Harrisburg; James B. O'Connell and his wife, Andrea, Millersburg; grandchildren, Terry, Keith, Mark & Christopher O'Connell and Heather Gabay; 12 great- grandchildren; two great-great grandchildren; brother Tommy McGowan, Virginia Beach, VA; sisters Jennie Simonson, Charleston, SC; and Mary Heinz, Henderson, NV. A memorial service for Mrs. O'Connell will be held at a future date. Interment in Oak Lawn Cemetery is private. Memorial donations may be made to the Osterhout Free Library, 71 South Franklin St., Wilkes-Barre, PA 18702 or PA Literacy Corps, 208 Rackley Bldg., University Park, PA 16802. Kniffen O'Malley Funeral Home, Inc., 465 South Main St., Wilkes-Barre, is in charge of arrangement.