-><!-- DisplayFullObituaryText -->Butler, Ruth StevensRuth Stevens Butler passed away peacefully at her home in Upper Nyack on Sunday, January 18, 2015 at 100 years of age. She was surrounded by family and friends, and is survived her son, George P. Butler IV and daughter-in-law, Robin, of Birmingham, Michigan, and her daughter, Barbara Del Pizzo of Los Angeles, California. She leaves behind eight grandchildren, Laurie Zavodny, Raisha Hamilton, Sarah Nash, Genevieve Butler, Christopher Butler, Courtney Bassett, Michael Butler and Jeffrey Butler. She is also survived by five great-grandchildren, Elizabeth, Emma and Teddy Zavodny, Asunji Maddox and Airrion Jean. She leaves behind an extended family around the world and many devoted friends, including Ramiro Urias and Lisa Retallack of who were never far from her side in the last decade of her life. She was predeceased by devoted husband, George P. Butler III, and her daughters, Rosemary Bertelson and Elizabeth Mulbah, two grandsons, Taj-Jamaal Sisco and Ty Mulbah, her parents Leonard Jackson Stevens and Rosa Lee Mattox, and her sister, Rosemary Shea,. Ruth Frances Stevens was born on August 6, 1914 in Des Moines, Iowa, and was raised with Rosemary primarily in Illinois. They were very close and Ruth's nieces, nephews and subsequent generations were frequent visitors through to her 100th birthday celebration in August. She met George Prentiss Butler in 1940. They married and settled in New York City where they lived while George served overseas during World War II. Ruth and George moved to Nyack after the war but soon thereafter began a life of working together as small industry development specialists in Nigeria, Kenya, Liberia and Haiti. George and Ruth were pioneers in the development of locally sustainable development programs aimed at the diversification of third world economies through the development of small businesses in agriculture, industry and the arts. Ruth was a gifted artist and her specialty was helping local artists and craftspeople sustain themselves and train apprentices through the development of export businesses that still operate to this day. Ruth and George lived and worked overseas from 1962 until the 1990's when they returned to Nyack. Ruth was a member to the congregation of Grace Episcopal Church and until as late as this past December, was working 3 days a week at the Grace Episcopal Thrift Shop. As the thousands of visitors to the Butler home can attest, Ruth was generous, her door was always open and she was always ready to help anyone in need.A memorial service will be held at Grace Episcopal Church, 130 1st Avenue, Nyack, NY 10960 on Saturday, January 24, 2015 at 12:00 noon. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Grace Episcopal Church at that same address.Hannemann Funeral Home, Inc. 88 South Broadway Nyack, NY (845) 358-0573