Mary Ruth Archer

Mary Ruth Archer, age 98, of Caldwell, died Saturday, May 9, 2026, at Ohio Health Mansfield Hospital.  She was born April 16, 1928, in Zanesville, Ohio, daughter of the late Arthur and Flo Dye Stiers. Mary Ruth was a 1946 graduate of Belle Valley High School and worked as a clerk for the Noble County Agricultural Service Center and Liberty Petroleum. She was a social worker for the Neighborhood Service Center and retired as Clerk of Noble Township after twenty-five years of service.  Mary Ruth and husband Paul owned and operated a family farm beginning in 1954.  She was a longtime 4-H Advisor beginning the Hoofbeats 4-H Club, the first horse club in Noble County.  Mary Ruth was a member of the Hiramsburg United Methodist Church and was a fifty-year Golden Sheaf member of both Halley’s Ridge and Sharon Grange.  She loved horses and cattle and was a member of the Ohio Wagon Train Association.  Family was the center of her life.

In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by her husband, Paul F. Archer, whom she married December 17, 1954 and who died June 15, 2015; a daughter-in-law, Nancy Archer; a brother, Wayne (Lois) Stiers; a sister, Betty (Robert) Clark;  and three nephews, Jerry Merry, David McIllyar and Herman Junior Yeagle.

Surviving are her children, Brent A. Archer, Jo Ann Archer and Brian F. (Robin) Archer all of Caldwell; five grandchildren; twelve great-grandchildren; two great-great grandchildren; several nieces and nephews.

Friends may call Wednesday, May 13, 2026, from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m., at McVay-Perkins Funeral Home, 416 East Street in Caldwell, where the funeral will be observed on Thursday, May 14, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. with Pastor Rodney Parson officiating.  Burial will follow at Hiramsburg Cemetery.  Memorial contributions may be made to the Noble County 4-H Council, PO Box 2, Caldwell, Ohio 43724.  An online guestbook may be signed at www.mcvay-perkins.com.