Mary "Ruth" (Carter) Sternberg, age 88, of Salem, passed away peacefully at her home on February 6, 2021. Ruth was born on December 18, 1932 at home in Tonti Township, the daughter of Laurn and Mable (Black) Carter. She married Morris Ritter and later divorced, then married Robert Sternberg, and later divorced. Ruth worked at Benke Photography and Brown Shoe Company in Salem. She then moved to Danville and started working for General Electric and later finished her career retiring from General Motors. Ruth enjoyed mushroom hunting, fishing, squirrel hunting and family gatherings. She was a member of the First Baptist Church in Salem and attended Marshall Creek Baptist Church in rural Odin. Ruth is survived by one son, Michael "Mike" Ritter and wife Julie of Danville; one daughter, Mary Allen and husband Ronnie of Salem; one step-son, Bobby Sternberg and wife Debbie of Danville; grandchildren, Jeremy Ritter of Warner Robins, GA, Melanie Cox-Ahlers of Peoria, Matthew Kempf and wife Brooke of Danville, Shannon Miller of Danville and Chris Miller and wife Caitlin of Georgetown; two great-grandchildren, Joseph Ahlers and Carter Ahlers and numerous nieces and nephews. Ruth was preceded in death by her parents; two brothers, Charles Carter and wife Dorothy and Robert Carter and wife Neoma and one sister, Elizabeth Petrea and husband Dwight. Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 am on Thursday, February 11, 2021 at Crouse Funeral Home in Salem with Matt Robbins officiating. Burial will be in the Sandoval City Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5:00 pm until 7:00 pm on Wednesday at the funeral home. Memorials can be made to Marshall Creek Baptist Church or the donor’s choice and can be received at the funeral home. To plant Memorial Trees in memory of Mary "Ruth" (Carter) Sternberg, please click here to visit our Sympathy Store.