Mary Ruth (Guerth) Hammond, 84, a long time resident of Annapolis, MD, died on January 16, 2010 at Sunrise Senior Living, in Annapolis, MD.

She was born on February 4, 1925 in Baltimore Maryland, and resided in Severna Park and Annapolis, Maryland. She married John Henry Hammond on March 19, 1959 at Woods Memorial Church in Severna Park and settled in Annapolis.

While raising her family, Ruth was very active at Woods, singing in the choir and supporting various outreach programs. Later, she became active with the U.S. Naval Academy Chapel family as a member of the Antiphonal Choir, and served as a wedding hostess and on countless Chapel committees. But it was her life-long passion for the fruits of our beloved Chesapeake Bay that would lead her to search her Winchester Rd. waterfront for just one more "beautiful swimmer", the blue crab.

She was preceded in death by her parents Ferdinand and Mary Elizabeth Guerth.

Survivors include her husband, John Henry Hammond, her sons John Henry Hammond Jr. of Carmel Valley, California, and Richard Strevig Hammond of Valley Lee, Maryland, and seven grandchildren.

Family and friends may visit on Tuesday, January 19, 2010 from 2-5 pm at Barranco's Severna Park Funeral Home, 495 Gov. Ritchie Hwy in Severna Park. A funeral service will be held on Wednesday, January 20, 2010 at 10:00 am, at Woods Memorial Presbyterian Church, 611 Baltimore Annapolis Blvd., Severna Park, MD 21146. Interment will be held at Cedar Hill Cemetery, Baltimore, MD.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Alzheimer's Association,
P.O. Box 96011,Washington, DC 20090-6011.