Ruth Tyrrell, 96, a mother of five who raised her children while working at Jersey Shore dining clubs mostly of another era, died Sunday at Meadowview Nursing Home in Northfield.

Ruth, known as “Marney” to her grandkids, was at Meadowview for the past six years. She had lived in Somers Point for almost 45 years and earlier was a longtime Atlantic City resident. She was born Sept. 28, 1921 in Philadelphia and spent her childhood years in Cape May County and Bridgeton.

Ruth worked as the hostess at Strotbeck’s Bay Club in Margate for more than 30 years, from about 1950 until it closed in 1982. In the late 50s, she also acquired a cosmetology license and worked as a hairdresser at Kara-Lynn’s salon in Margate.

In her younger years, she worked at shore dining spots including Orsatti’s in Somers Point, where, she remembered, Louis Prima, Cab Calloway and the Mills Brothers were headliners. In the 1980s, after her years at Strotbeck’s, she was a hostess at the Atlantic City Country Club in Northfield.

Ruth was a woman of strong faith who loved nature. She was a member of Central United Methodist Church in Linwood, and she had a lifelong love of area beaches and boardwalks, which she passed along to her children. She loved taking rides to Cape May and through the Forsythe wildlife refuge in Galloway Township.

Ruth lived a quiet life in retirement. In later years, her most frequent haunt was The Breakfast Shop in Somers Point. She owned a couple good cats, enjoyed a challenging jigsaw puzzle and followed the Phillies.

Ruth is survived by her four daughters, Betty Lou Barber of Fort Myers, Fla.; Patricia Young of Linwood; Kathy Halsey of Fort Myers; and Carol-Lee Mallory of English Creek; and her son, Mark Tyrrell of Huntington, N.Y. She was married twice, to Walter Rush and later to Aidan Tyrrell, who both preceded her.

Survivors also include grandchildren Scott Rowan, Karen Rowan, Bill Rowan, Daniel Young, Amie Mallory, Grace Tyrrell and Anne Tyrrell. Granddaughter Jennifer Young preceded her. Ruth also was a great-grandmother of five.

Her remains were cremated as per her wishes. A gathering will be held on Thursday, April 12th from 10 am to 11 am at Adams-Perfect Funeral Home, 1650 New Road, in Northfield. Services will follow at 11 am. Burial will follow at Zion Cemetery in Bargaintown.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation or Meadowview Nursing Home’s recreation fund.

Arrangements entrusted to and condolences for the family may be left at Adams-Perfect.com