Honoring the Memory
of Those
We Love

Age 94, of Baldwin Borough, PA, passed away peacefully on the morning of February 4, 2026. Daughter of the late Vincent D. and Emma (Staab) Fleckenstein, sister of the late Emma Jean Fleckenstein and Robert J. Fleckenstein, wife of the late and beloved Donald P. Matway, loving mother of Roy (Beth) Matway and Tom (Diane) Matway, and grandmother of Lora, Claire, Beck and Bryce Matway; she is also survived by nephews Steven, Alan (Jan) and Karl Fleckenstein and grandniece Kyra Fleckenstein.

Ruth Matway grew up in a big yellow house in the South Side Slopes, and used to climb around on the rocky cliffs at South Side Park while her brother was at football practice. Ruth graduated from St. George High School (class of 1949) where she and Don met and went to senior prom together. As a young adult, she worked as a comptometrist handling transactions for downtown Pittsburgh’s department stores. During Don’s two years in the army in Fort Lee, VA, he drove home to visit her every weekend. Ruth and Don married on August 6, 1955. They settled in Baldwin, where they raised their sons (born 1956 and 1961) and befriended many neighbors. Don worked at J&L Steel; Ruth took care of the boys and managed the household. These were lean times, but they always had bread with gravy or mayonnaise if the main dish ran out. Ruth and Don’s 57 years together were full of good-natured mischief and lively family dinners.

Ruth became very involved at St. Albert the Great Church, volunteering for the parish council and helping with the rectory accounting. Once her sons left home, she and her dear friend Odette Yesline ran the St. Albert the Great Federal Credit Union for more than two decades. They operated out of Ruth’s home office, and knew the lives and stories of everyone who arrived for an appointment. Folks came in for credit union business, but also just to talk.

Ruth savored many sunny days on the beach in Sea Isle City, NJ with Don and the family, and at home she tucked scallop shells in her flower beds. She loved playing 500 with her women’s card game party group and she’d spend hours talking and laughing with Odette after church. She grew green beans and tomatoes, roasted nuts in the oven, pickled red beets with eggs, and left cantaloupe seeds out for the birds. It turns out she did notice her grandkids stealing her Doublemint chewing gum from the silverware drawer. At day’s end, she’d often treat herself to a stiff Manhattan.

In her later years, Ruth got a parakeet named Ben who she accidentally trained to talk (“How ya doin’, sweetie?”) and made friends over puzzles at Asbury Villas. She had a warm, easy way with people and a great smile, and joked a lot with strangers. Recently Ruth said “You must stick with your friends!” and “It’s been a real good life.” Her family treasures her and has been honored to care for her.

Ruth will rest with Don at St. Michael Cemetery. Services will be held at Asbury Heights’ Hickman Chapel on Friday Feb 13: reception at 10:00am and service at 11:00am. In lieu of flowers, donations are suggested to the Family Hospice Foundation (http://UPMC.com/FamilyHospiceDonate) or the Asbury Foundation (https://asburyheights.org/donations/), 700 Bower Hill Rd, Pittsburgh, PA 15243.