Age: 79 of Bensalem, PA

Ruth Parnes 1941-2020, passed away at home on Wednesday, June 3rd surrounded by family. As a young woman, she began her university studies as a Philosophy major – who then took the unusual turn to study Industrial Engineering. The first in her family to graduate from college, she went on to become a pioneer in her field, working as an engineer when only five percent of engineers were women. She received notoriety for her environmental activism including the Lorraine Saban Memorial Award. After she retired from Merck & Co, she joined the organization American Association of University Women, Levittown Lower Bucks County, participating in numerous ways including as Treasurer for many years and as President from 2001-2003. A life long feminist, she was proud to participate in the 2017 Woman’s March even while recovering from a broken back.

An engaged parent, she loved to organize street fairs, haunted houses and numerous other activities that made her house a favorite in the neighborhood. A lifelong folk music enthusiast, Ruth was a member of the Buffalo ensemble, Singing Strings. In both her professional and personal lives, she was generous and supportive – always a force to be reckoned with.

She is survived by her loving husband of 57 years Milton Parnes, her three children Sheldon Parnes (Linda Parnes), Aaron Parnes (Sylvia Parnes) and Laura Parnes and by her seven grandchildren Kate, Alex, Adam, Serena, and Isaac Parnes, Paul Kasonde, and Leon Heist, by her sisters Mary Zaman, Kathy Cervantes, Michelle Gibbons, Barbara Ferguson and her brother Charles Gibbons.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Doctors Without Borders, Planned Parenthood, Covenant House or Chandler Hall Hospice. It was her hope to live long enough to see Trump defeated in the upcoming elections. Please do whatever you can to make this come to fruition. A remote memorial service will be held in the coming months. If you are interested in attending please RSVP to rparnesmemorial@gmail.com.