Ruth A. (Miller) (Deller) Burkett Melbourne, Florida 

It is with great sadness that we share the passing of Ruth A (Miller) (Deller) Burkett, 90, of Melbourne, Florida on Tuesday May 28, 2024. Born January 8, 1934 in Dallastown, PA, she was the daughter of the late Herman S. Miller and Hazel V. (Stine) Miller. She was preceded in death by 3 siblings, Ellen (Miller) (Koons) Raver, Esther (Miller) Conrad and Raymond Miller.

Ruth attended school in Dallastown and afterwards kept busy raising her five children. To help with providing for a large, young family, she stopped more than one groundhog from raiding the vegetable garden using her trusty shotgun from a second-floor window. In 1994, following a career in the electronics industry and disliking the cold Pennsylvania winters, Ruth realized a long-time dream and relocated to the central Florida area. An avid bowler, she soon joined a bowling league where she met James Burkett, who played on the same league and the following year they were married in Reno, Nevada. Having taken piano lessons as a child, Ruth rekindled that passion later in life taking organ lessons and entertaining her family and friends with her musical talent. Phantom of the Opera and Edelweiss were just a few of her favorite pieces.

Ruth will be remembered for her card playing skills, her quick wit, her ability to tell a joke and make people laugh, her delicious clam soup and scrumptious key lime pies, and her delight in all things Elvis. (She would be quick to tell you that she was born on the same day as Elvis, just one year earlier!) She loved nature and animals, especially hummingbirds and her feline pets, Precious and more recently, Sheba, with whom she shared a special bond. Bird of Paradise was her favorite flower and you could also find gardenia blooming around the pool. But most of all she treasured spending time with her family at every opportunity. She will be deeply missed by all who knew her.

Ruth is survived by her loving husband, James Burkett (they were looking forward to celebrating their 23rd wedding anniversary on June 4th), her five children (from a previous marriage to Francis B Deller, originally of Dallastown, PA), JoAnn Hullman (husband J Christopher) of York PA, Beth Harlacher (husband Timothy) of Lost River WV, Debra Long (husband Richard) of Landisville PA, Daniel Deller (wife Pamela) of Dallastown PA; and Constance Wertman (husband Jeffrey) of Windsor PA, and two stepchildren, Diana Harclerode (husband Roger) of Viera FL and Audrey Gruber (husband Steven) of Melbourne FL and her sister-in-law, Gail Miller of York, PA.

In addition, Ruth is survived by seven grandchildren, Melissa Hullman (husband Douglas Jameson), Toni Watson (husband Perry), Lori Mincemoyer (husband Ryan), Alison Long-Nebiolo (wife Nicole Folston), Kristen Risalek (husband Joseph), Angela Neff (husband Matthew), Daniel Deller II (wife Brittany), and six great-grandchildren, Claire and Anna Mincemoyer, Shylah Watson, Shawn and Emily Neff and Hazel Deller, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

The family wishes to thank Ruth’s numerous wonderful caregivers, especially Debra Lee, to whom Ruth became a second mother. A private Celebration of Ruth’s Life is planned for July.

Memorial contributions can be made to The Michael J Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, Grand Central Station, PO Box 4777 New York, NY 10163-4777 or [email protected]

Arrangements by Ammen Family Cremation and Funeral Care of Palm Bay, Florida.