HERKIMER - Ruth Marie Loth Carroll, 85, of Green Street, passed away unexpectedly Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2003, in Evanston, Ill. at the home of her son, Robert. She was born March 26, 1917, in Buffalo, the daughter of the late John Christian and Rose (Klemm) Gottlieb. She was raised and educated in Buffalo, where she graduated from high school. On Sept. 14, 1944, she married the Rev. Orrin T. Carroll in Buffalo. They shared a loving and devoted union of 42 years until his passing June 26, 1986. Ruth continued her education after her five children were born, graduating with honors from Syracuse University. She obtained her master's degree from SUNY Albany. For many years she worked as the librarian for Westmoreland Central School, retiring in 1989. She was a member of Phi Beta Phi MU International Librarians Honor Society. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Herkimer and Little Falls, serving on various committees within the church and on the district level. She was an earnest reader and found pleasure in letter writing and corresponding with friends. Her hobbies included flower gardening and birds. Since retiring, she enjoyed traveling. Surviving are three sons and their families, John Christian Carroll and his wife Kathleen Ann of Berlin, Wis., their three children, Angela Becker and her husband Tim, William Brendt and his wife Denise of Illinois and Lisa Messa and her husband Martin; Robert A. Carroll and Russell Elenz of Evanston, Ill., their two sons, Keyon Morris and Kyle Murphy; David M. Carroll and his wife Holly M. of Oneida; their three sons, Christopher Carroll and his wife Laura, Scott Carroll and his wife Julie and Thomas Carroll and his wife Christie; two daughters and their families, Linda Susan Carroll and Isaac Hill of Silver Springs, Md.; her daughter, Rosemary Land and her husband Travis, Ruth Anne Duckworth of Herkimer and her daughter, Melissa Duckworth; 13 great grandchildren; one brother, Paul Edward Loth of Wheaton, Ill.; many nieces, nephews, cousins and grand-nieces and nephews. Besides her husband, the Rev. Orrin T. Carroll, she was predeceased by a brother, John William Loth and a granddaughter, Sue Brendt. Funeral services will be Wednesday at 11 a.m. in the First United Methodist Church of Herkimer and Little Falls. The Rev. Wrightson Tongue, pastor and the Rev. Elizabeth Mowry of the First United Methodist Church of Oneida will officiate. Interment will take place later this spring at a time to be announced, in Mohawk Cemetery. The family will receive relatives and friends in Fenner Funeral Home Inc., 115 Court St., Herkimer, on Tuesday from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Memorial donations may be made to a United Methodist Church of choice.