Ruth Anne Leukel Vagt

Ruth Vagt died at the age of 97 at her home at Westminster Canterbury of Lynchburg on October 14, 2022.  Ruth was born in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania on June 6, 1925 to George and Marian Leukel.

Ruth’s greatest pride and joy was her family; her husband George who predeceased her, her children:

Bobby Vagt and wife Ruth Anne, Marian Stryker and husband Bill, Susan Hill, and Georgeann Snead and husband Parks.  She was a loving grandmother who played countless card games with her grandchildren Ashley Buford, Nathaniel Hill,  Lindsey Vagt, Joshua Hill, Will Stryker, John Stryker, Hannah Cogar, Kristen Stryker, and Parks Snead IV. She is also survived by great-grandchildren Rebecca Hill, Max Buford, James Buford, Lily Stryker, Sydney Vagt, Jack Cogar and Luke Stryker.

Ruth was a gifted musician who shared her gifts freely and passionately throughout her life. For more than 70 years she filled churches with awe inspiring organ music and song as an organist and choir director. She served as a school music teacher into her 90s when one of her greatest joys was working with the children at First Presbyterian Church of Lynchburg Day School. Throughout her life she drew generations of family and countless friends and strangers around her piano to join together in singing hymns, oldies and showtunes or perhaps a Hokey Pokey dance.  She will be remembered for these joyous gatherings, her zest for life, her hospitality to friends and strangers who became friends, her sticky buns, her late in life convertible with the VAGT personalized tag she drove in her straw hat and sunglasses, and above all her love of God and her family.

A celebration of Ruth’s life will be announced at a later date.