Mary Ruth Zike Fischer GAITHERSBURG, MD-- Mary Ruth Zike Fischer passed away at the Asbury Methodist Village, Gaithersburg, MD on Friday, August 17, 2012, at age 94. She was born in Venice, IL on May 12, 1918, and was valedictorian of her high school, where she played the baritone in the band. She, her husband and sons moved to Granite City, IL and were members of Niedringhaus Methodist Church. Her husband's job as Trainmaster with the GM&O RR transferred him to Meridian, MS in 1955. In Meridian, Mrs. Fischer was a member of Poplar Springs Drive Methodist Church and the Magnolia Garden Club. She moved to Baton Rouge, LA to be near her sister and receive successful cancer treatments in 1999. Two years later she moved to Spartanburg, SC to be near her son, Mark and his family. While there she was a member of the Bethel United Methodist Church. In 2008 she moved near another son, David in North Bethesda, MD. Mrs. Fischer was preceded in death by her parents, Sophia Vaughn and Golden D. Zike, Sr. of Granite City, IL; her husband, George Neiman Fischer of Meridian, MS; her son, Paul Fischer of Eight Mile, AL; and her brother, Golden D. Zike, Jr. of Alton, IL. She is survived by her sons, David G. Fischer of North Bethesda, MD and Mark E. Fischer and his wife, Dale, of Moore, SC and her grandchildren, Matthew and Andrew and his wife, Shani of Spartanburg, SC; and her sister, Eileen Newsom of Baton Rouge, LA. Gravesite services conducted by the family were held on Saturday, August 25, 2012, at Forest Lawn Cemetery, Meridian, MS. Charitable contributions can be made to: The Organ Fund, Bethel United Methodist Church, 245 South Church Street, Spartanburg, SC 29306; or Montgomery Hospice, 1355 Piccard Drive, #100, Rockville, MD 20850.