Ruth Norma Libby Dagino departed this life for her eternal home on January 11, 2026, at the age of 94. She was a long-time resident of Penney Retirement Community in Penney Farms, FL. A memorial service celebrating her life will be held February 6, 2026, at 2PM at Penney Memorial Church with Pastor Joel Curry officiating. A graveside burial service will follow at Penney Retirement Community Cemetery.

Born on June 22, 1931, in Bridgewater, Maine, to Charles Arthur and Birdie Heloise (Bradstreet) Libby, Ruth was the third of five children. She grew up in Maine along with her siblings, Anne (Libby) Hoff, Charles Libby, Clint Libby, and Helen (Libby) Ritchie, all of whom preceded her in death.

Following graduation from high school in 1949, Ruth attended Bob Jones University in Greenville, SC, where she earned her Bachelors in Home Economics in 1953. She was the Treasurer of Mission Prayer Band her senior year, Chaplin of Life Service Band (Reaching Children for Christ) her senior year, and the Elizabeth Barrett Browning Secretary her junior year. She then returned to Maine where she worked as a home economist. It was there that she met and fell in love with James “Jim” William Dagino, the young pastor of Owl’s Head Baptist Church. Ruth and Jim were married on August 7, 1955, in Houlton, Maine.

Following a honeymoon to Prince Edward Island, Canada, Ruth and Jim made their home in Malvern, Pennsylvania where Jim was pastor of First Baptist Church. Ruth attended the Antoinette Westphal College of Media Arts and Design at Drexel University, receiving her Master’s of Science Degree in Home Economics in 1962. That same year, Ruth and Jim welcomed their first son, Charles. Their daughter, Libby, joined the family in 1964.

In 1965, Jim accepted a call to be pastor of Greenwood Baptist Church in Brooklyn, New York where he and Ruth served until 1971 when they moved to Point Pleasant, Pennsylvania. As the wife of a pastor, Ruth enjoyed cooking and entertaining at home. She frequently hosted parishioners for delicious home-cooked meals, or dessert and tea, and playing board games. While in Point Pleasant, gardening was one of Ruth’s favorite pastimes and she enjoyed sharing her harvest with others as well as canning and freezing the bountiful fruits and vegetables, she raised.

In 1980, Ruth and Jim Returned to Brooklyn, New York, where Ruth embarked on a second career in education. While teaching elementary school in Brooklyn, Ruth completed post-graduate courses at Princeton University to earn her teaching certification for the City of New York. Ruth’s third-grade class at PS 107 participated in an extensive ecology project which won national recognition, and for which she received a trip to Iceland. It was also in Brooklyn that Ruth met a young visitor at church from Thailand who was looking for someone to teach her sisters to speak English. Ruth graciously accepted the challenge and invited the young woman and her sisters to dinner at her home that evening, beginning an endearing friendship with her guests.

Ruth retired from teaching in 1991 and she and Jim moved to Penney Retirement Community in Penney Farms, Florida.

At Penney Farms, Ruth served her community and was an active member of the Penney Memorial Church and Sunday School. One of her greatest joys was working with stained glass. Ruth enjoyed creating beautiful stained-glass pieces for individuals and for the annual community sale, as well as larger pieces which are installed on campus at the former dining hall and the library. She also enjoyed sharing her knowledge and skills and was always eager to teach others the craft.

During their retirement, Ruth and Jim enjoyed traveling internationally. Ruth had a lifelong love of learning and especially visiting other countries and experiencing other cultures.

Ruth is survived by her son, Charles Edward Dagino and wife Roxanne of Enola, PA; her daughter, Libby Lynn Dagino, of Perkasie, PA; five grandchildren: Jade (Dagino) Ferguson, David J. Dagino, and Charles A. Dagino, all of Enola, PA; Alyssa Lynn Johnson and husband Colin of Spring Hill FL; and Kristina Noelle Phillips of Perkasie, PA; four great-grandchildren: Harrison Ferguson and Henry Ferguson of Enola, PA; and Faye Johnson and Daphne Johnson of Spring Hill Florida; and a host of nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Residents Aid Fund of Penney Retirement Community.

Arrangements are under the care of Broadus Raines Funeral Home, 501 Spring Street, Green Cove Springs, FL.