Full Name: Ruth Evelyn Barksdale
Current Age: 70
Spouse: Melvin (deceased)
Children: Helen, Amy, and Rita
Vocation: Owner of the Barksdale Bake Sale
First Appearance in Abruptly Amy: "A New Beginning"
Catchphrase: "Am I the only sane one in this damn family?!"

Ruth never made an appearance on Daria (unless you count
Ruth Morgendorffer, Jake's mother, who appeared in "Jake of
Hearts").  Helen and Rita only made passing references to her in "I Don't" as a wealthy woman who favored Rita above her other daughters. On Abruptly Amy, her socioeconomic status was lowered to middle class.  We learn in "A New Beginning" that she has been widowed for several years, running the Barksdale Bake Sale, a bakery founded by her husband.  This bakery was threatened by Harvey "Big Harv" Clifford's schemes to add it and other businesses to his Superstore, until Amy thwarted them. Ruth is best known for her crusty personality and sometimes overly-cynical behavior, demonstrated by the way she obviously favors her oldest daughter, Helen, over Amy and Rita (a definite break from her role on the parent series), or the way she considers pulling a Big Harv and expanding the Bake Sale down the block once it starts profitting from the happy dough ("A New Beginning").  At the same time, it's clear that she cares about her daughters, and even has a soft spot for the moody Andrea.