Born Ruth Elizabeth Norton in Youngwood, Pennsylvania in 1926, the author and her three brothers and one sister were raised by their widowed mother in Greensburg, Pennsylvania.  During her high school years, the author wrote a novel and sent it away to be evaluated.  When it was returned with a few suggested changes, she became discouraged, tore it up, and considered her writing career a total failure.

On a snowy Christmas Eve, 1944, the author was married to Sgt. Earl Sutherland of the Eighth Air Force and, after being separated for a year, settled down to raising a family when the war ended.  (Earl also wrote a book, "Just an 18 Year Old During World War II", about his travels and experiences both stateside and in the European Theatre)

In 1957, with six children, they moved to Lorain, Ohio and waited for a new Ford plant to be built.  Here they added three "Buckeyes" to the family, making a total of nine children.  It was during these busiest times of her life that the author began writing poetry and felt that this was a God-given talent to be shared and enjoyed by family and friends.  Many of the poems in this work were written for (or about) the Sutherland children, and quite a few were for friends in time of need or for special encouragement.  Some were inspired by messages preached by pastors and/or evangelists.

The author's oldest son, Paul, used to teasingly say, "Some day, Mom, we're going to see your name up in lights."  Paul lost a battle with cancer in 1974 without knowing his Mother's poems would some day be published.  Richard and Billy are in the ministry.  John has gone on to be with the Lord.  Daughters Ruthie, Carol, Peggy, Jerri and Kathy are busy raising families and grandkids.   The joint effort of these nine families blessed the author and her husband with TWENTY-SEVEN lovely, lively grandchildren, and SEVENTY NINE great grandchildren, and at least 3 great great grandkids. (As you can imagine, this number keeps growing)

After Earl retired from Ford in 1983, they lived in Marion, Ohio til Ruth went home to be with Jesus on June 24, 2005.  Earl joined her on December 4, 2016.

(last updated March 2020)