Ruth Pahl, 84, school cafeteria manager

Ruth M. Pahl, a longtime cafeteria manager for Baltimore County schools, died Tuesday at Copper Ridge in Sykesville after a long battle with dementia. She was 84.

Mrs. Pahl was a resident of Eldersburg for more than 25 years before her illness.

Ruth M. Westgate was born in Baltimore, one of five children. She attended Baltimore County public schools and married Walter C. Pahl Sr., a Baltimore County firefighter, in 1941. Mr. Pahl died in 1993.

Mrs. Pahl worked for 30 years in Baltimore County public schools cafeterias and retired from the cafeteria at Deer Park Middle School.

"She was the manager," said her daughter-in-law, Patricia Pahl of Lake Wales, Fla. "She got there early and helped prepare the food."

Funeral services were Friday.

She is survived by two sons, Walter C. Pahl Jr. of Glen Rock, Pa., and Wesley S. Pahl of Lake Wales; a daughter, Sharon Lee Pahl of Sykesville; a brother, Robert Carhart of Severna Park; two sisters, Patricia Wolf of Westminster and Martha Wise of Severna Park; three grandchildren; and one great-granddaughter.