Saratoga Springs - Ellen E. Ruhle, 88, of Staffords Bridge passed away Friday May 29, 2009 at home. Ellen was born at home on the family farm. She was the first child of the late Irving and Lena (Mohr) Ruhle. Ellen attended Wagman's Ridge one-room schoolhouse and graduated from Saratoga Springs High School in 1939. As a teenager she worked at the Blue Bell Tea Room during the summer months. For the next ten years she worked at Stewart's on Church Street. One of the men left to start his own ice cream store, Nancy's, on Lake Avenue and she worked there until it closed. Shortly there after she started working at Menges & Curtis, first at the soda fountain and then as the "whatever needed doing" clerk. She and her "Broadway Buddies" dominated the breakfast and lunch window at Lou's Luncheonette, now Compton's, during their working years. Ellen was a communicant of St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church. She belonged to many Church groups over the years including Lutheran Daughters, Lutheran Missionary League and the bowling team. She was a member of the Quaker Springs Sunshiners and held many offices through the years. Ellen loved to travel to new places both with the Sunshiners on bus trips and with her friends to Las Vegas, Hawaii, Maine, the Grand Canyon and San Francisco. Besides her parents, Ellen was predeceased by two brothers, Irving Jr. and Floyd Ruhle, a great-niece, May Lamodi; a great-great niece, Lyla Simone and her long time companion, Mike Longo. Ellen leaves behind four sisters, Marion Ruhle and Lena Robinson of Staffords Bridge, Frances Turney of Ballston Spa and Shirley Clark of Saratoga Springs, one brother, James Ruhle of Saratoga Springs and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. A special thank you is extended to those who helped Ellen in her final days: Lena and Mary who were her daily companions, Ann Marie, Meghan, Carney, Diane and Linda - her nieces and also her caregivers who allowed her to stay at home; Dr. Jean Flanagan and her staff; Pastor James Jaekel; the wonderful staff at Hospice and Burke's Funeral Home- especially long time friends Tom and Mark. There will be a memorial service 10 am Wednesday June 3, 2009 at St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church, 149 Lake Avenue. Burial will be at the convenience of the family. Memorial donations may be forwarded to Community Hospice of Saratoga, 179 Lawrence Street, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 or St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church, 149 Lake Ave., Saratoga Springs, NY 12866. Arrangements are under the direction of the William J. Burke & Sons/Bussing & Cunniff Funeral Homes of 628 North Broadway (584-5373).