Ruth Ann Heath, age 80, of Indian Head, Maryland

Our beloved, Ruth Ann Heath of Indian Head, Maryland, passed away on Saturday, June 15, 2024, peacefully, at University of Maryland Charles Regional Medical Center.  She was born on June 17, 1943, to the late Charles Douglas Bowie, III and Mary Elizabeth Bowie.

Born in Frederick, Maryland, Ruth was one of thirteen African Americans to integrate Frederick High School from which she graduated in 1961. Ruth and some of her classmates were interviewed by an editor from the Frederick Magazine in February of this year, where they reflected on their experiences being the first African Americans to integrate Frederick High School in 1958.  After graduating high school, she married the love of her life, Sylvester Eugene Heath.  Ruth Ann started her career working at the PBX on Griffis Air Force Base in Rome, New York. The last ten years of her career she worked as a Financial Analyst for the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

Ruth loved to knit, crochet, watch her favorite TV shows (which included Grey's Anatomy and 911) and she especially loved playing Bunco.  She also loved to read and listen to eBooks.  Ruth was an avid traveler and loved going to New Orleans, Atlanta, Georgia and Toronto, Canada.  Most importantly she loved spending time with her daughter, Leslie.  They had a very special bond; they always enjoyed spending quality time together and they were best friends for each other.

Keeping a promise, she made to herself and Leslie, Ruth was baptized on October 6, 2023, at Beltway Church of Christ.  Overcoming her fear of water, she pushed through it – with some help, but she felt good and proud of herself after.

A true friend and sister in Christ, Ruth was a beautiful soul.  She always had a smile on her face and was sweet to everyone she met.

Ruth is survived by her son Mark.

She is also survived by her grands; Mark, Jr., Leah and Ray; sister, Freda (Phil) Lee, brother, Rod (Teresa) Bowie, sisters-in-Law, Clarissa Bowie, Maria Bowie, a host of relatives, her Bunco ladies and her Beltway Church of Christ family.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Sylvester Eugene Heath, daughter, Leslie Dawn Heath, father, Charles D. Bowie, mother, Dorothy Bowie, sisters, June Bowie and Beverly ("Pixie") Hollingsworth, brothers, David Bowie, Charlie Bowie, Donald Bowie and sister-in-Law, June Scott.

Her Viewing will be 10:00 am, until time of Service, 11:00 am, Monday, June 24, 2024, Beltway Church of Christ, 6000 Davis Boulevard, Camp Springs, Maryland 20746.

Interment, Heritage Memorial Cemetery, 13472 Poplar Hill Road, Waldorf, Maryland 20601.