Ruth J. Beal, 86, of Wind Gap, passed away early Monday morning August 17, 2015 in Moravian Hall Square, Nazareth. She was the wife of Maynard Beal; together they shared 67 years of marriage on July 24, 2015. Born October 3, 1928 in Wind Gap, she was a daughter of the late John Sherman and Sadie M. Bloom Smickley. Ruth was a 1946 graduate of Pen Argyl High school and attended Allentown Cosmetology School. Earlier in life, Ruth was employed by the Miller family, owners of Melody Motel in Wind Gap. In her spare time, she enjoyed knitting and was known to share her beautiful handiwork with relatives and friends. She was a member of Hope United Church of Christ in Wind Gap serving as treasurer of the building committee, usher and Sunday school teacher where she played the piano. In addition to her loving husband Maynard, Ruth is survived by one son Matthew and his wife Pamela of Nazareth; two daughters, Susan Reduzzi and her husband David of Annapolis, Maryland and Aimee Chido and her husband John of Newark, Delaware; five grandchildren, David Scott Reduzzi, Danielle Brown, Ranae Luppold, Josiah Beal and John Chido III as well as six great grandchildren. In addition to her parents, Ruth is predeceased by her grandson Stephen Reduzzi and brother Sherman Smickley. Relatives and friends are invited to a viewing Friday evening, August 21st, from 7-9 PM at the Schmidt Funeral Home, 202 West Street, Wind Gap. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, August 22nd, at 11 AM in Hope United Church of Christ, 701 Cherry Street, Wind Gap. There will no viewing hours on Saturday. Burial will follow services in the Wind Gap Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, family requests memorials to the church in Ruth's memory.