Rutha Mae Fincham, 92 of Charlotte, passed away on Thursday July 16, 2020 at Atrium Health-University.

Rutha Mae Neal Fincham, a native Charlottean was born on March 3, 1928 in Steele Creek Township to the late Ross Eugene Neal and Mary Lucinda Neal. She attended Mecklenburg school system, graduated from Clear Creek High (currently renamed Gunn High). She won a scholarship from the Beckwith Studios in Charlotte where she perfected her talent in piano. The scholarship gave her the opportunity to attend Bard College in New York city earning a degree in Education. She then proceeded to Columbia university and obtained a Master in Education, specializing in Special Education. She resided in Boston Massachusetts where she worked as a special education teacher in the Boston school system for 30 years.

She retired and lived in Danbury New Hampshire where she enjoys gardening and having conversations with her neighbors, especially Tammy Phelps and Steve and Judy Gordon whom she cherished their friendship deeply in her heart.

In 2019 she resided at Preston Memory Care where she befriended a host of staff members whom she enjoyed getting pampered with little things like getting her nails done in her favorite color, pink.

She is survived by her surviving siblings: Irene Lowery (James), Ernest Neal (Yun Pi), and Cecil Neal all of Charlotte, North Carolina. She was preceded in death by her sisters Minnie Hill (J.B.), Jerdy Neal, Corine Bittle (Dan), Carrie-Bell McClellan (Woodrow), brothers Willie Alexander Neal (Tressie Blondola and Ann), John Ross Neal, Thomas Neal, and Richard Dean Neal (Sylvia).

She leaves to cherish her memory a host of nephews, nieces, great-nephews, great-nieces and a host of other relatives and friends.

'Aunt Ruth' was a very quiet, private person, humble and gentle. She had a million-dollar smile with two deep dimples. She loves her animals, especially cats, and always had been an advocate for children with special needs. She will be sorely missed.

Acknowledgements

The family of Rutha Mae Neal Fincham wishes to thank everyone for all acts of kindness shown to them in their time of sorrow. May God bless you always.

As Aunt Ruth said on December 9th, 2019, 'Life is short, no time machine to go back and start over so just live and drink that coffee, enjoy.' Please drive home safely and have a cup of coffee in her honor.