Ruth Hamilton
Age - 85
August 9, 2023
Ruth Ann (Roberts) Hamilton went home peacefully to her Lord Jesus Christ at 85 years of age
on Sunday, August 6, 2023 at Carveth Village, Middleville. She was born in Lake Odessa, to
Roy (Virginia Hoover) Roberts. Her parents moved from Lake Odessa to rural Nashville in 1950
where she attended W. K. Kellogg Schools. She met her husband-to-be, Richard Hamilton in the
sixth grade. They graduated together in 1956, and were married on November 1, 1958 at Zion
Lutheran Church in Woodland, Michigan. Ruth Ann and Richard moved to Middleville, after
several years in Saginaw and Grand Rapids, MI. They purchased an early area farm home at 909
W. Main St. in 1969 where they found a rural pleasant and friendly community to raise their
three sons, Richard, Bradley, and Thomas. She and Richard moved to Arizona after retirement
and after 20 years they returned to Middleville. They celebrated their 64 th anniversary in 2022.
She was a life long member of the Lutheran Church and a member of Good Shepherd LCMS in
Middleville.
She was a high school cheerleader, FHA member and 1955 and 1956 Editor of the High School
Year Books, former Barry County Chairperson of the American Cancer Society, member of
Lutheran World Mission League, Zion Lutheran Church of Woodland & Saginaw, Chapel of the
Lakes Lutheran Church of Mecosta, and Catalina Lutheran Church of Arizona. She served many
years on the church Altar Guild, and found joy in serving others, and attending Wednesday Bible
study and Sunday services with her husband and church family friends.
After high school she worked as a bookkeeper for the Westin Biscuit Co. in Battle Creek, and
Saginaw B. F. Goodrich Tire and Appliance store. When the family moved to Middleville in
1969 she worked at the Farmers State Bank and Hastings City Bank for 20+ years.
She enjoyed traveling the countryside throughout Michigan and the U. S. She was a tennis player
and an ardent fan of Roger Federer, pro golf, Arizona Diamondbacks baseball, NCAA college
basketball and women's volleyball. She was an avid Bridge player, and founding member of a
Christian Book Club. She liked to play cards and board games with her husband and
grandchildren, Sean, Dylan, Ian, and Shannon. She enjoyed reading books with Christian faith
themes. In 1984 she walked 274 miles in 10 days from Middleville to Mackinaw City with three
friends, and was honored in 1984 for Excellence in Personal Achievement by Hastings City
Bank. She especially enjoyed her four high school cheerleader girlfriends, "Friends for Life",
and their round robin letters. In 2000 Ruth Ann and her three sisters took their mother on a
lifetime memorable trip to Switzerland. Her Swiss Mennonite maternal ancestors
(Huber/Hoover) arrived in America from Switzerland in 1690 and settled at Wm. Penn's colony
in Lancaster County (New Holland), Pennsylvania. She and Richard traveled there and found the
original church and Huber home site. Her paternal ancestors arrived in America from Germany
in the mid 1850s and settled in Woodland Twp. and were founding members of Zion Lutheran
Church on land donated by her ancestors. She and Richard traveled to Germany and visited her
ancestor's church and home site, and explored town and family records going back to the mid
1340s.
She was a helpmate contributor and proofreader for her husband's writings and published books,
and a loyal supporter of her church, Barry Community Foundation, Thornapple Area Enrichment
Foundation, American Cancer Society, Mel Trotter Mission, and Hillsdale College.
She is survived by her loving husband Richard and sons Richard W. (Shelley) Hamilton of
Wayland, Bradley L. (Melissa) Hamilton of Jenison, grandchildren Sean L. (Megan) Hamilton
of Grand Rapids, Ian T. (Demi) Hamilton of Wyoming, MI; Dylan J. Hamilton of Wayland,
Shannon L. Cousineau (Hamilton) (Cody) of Pinckney, MI, great grandsons Owen L. and Milo
B. Hamilton of Grand Rapids, sister Eunice E. (Rex) Goodemoot of Lake Odessa, nephew
Daniel Roberts of Gun Lake, brother in-law Reginald W. (Dusty) Hamilton of Arizona, and
several nieces, nephews, cousins, and her life long dear friend Kay Collier (Montgomery)
(Denny) of Indianapolis, Indiana.
She was preceded in death by her father and mother Roy G. and Virginia V. (Hoover) Roberts,
son Thomas R. Hamilton (U. S. Navy), sisters Irene M. (Russell) Ames, Margene L. (James)
Taylor, brothers Lee D. Roberts and Gary G. Roberts, grandfather and grandmother George G.
and Caroline D. (Niethamer) Roberts, father and mother in-law Carroll A. and Elsie M. (Patten)
Hamilton, sister in-law Rita F. Pratt (Hamilton) (Bob), and brother in-law Russell C. (Barbara)
Hamilton.
For family and for all those who knew her, Ruthie will be dearly missed and remembered for her
kind, friendly, witty and loving personality. Even in her last painful days of life, she kept a
peaceful small smile on her face, waiting for the Lord Jesus Christ to take her home to
everlasting life in heaven.
The Hamilton family wishes to thank Pastor Berg for his constant prayer and devotion to
Ruthie's bedside, the loving care giving staff at Carveth Village, and to Tammy, her Gentiva
Hospice nurse, and Melissa her Hospice aide in her time of need, and the many prayers offered
by family and friends.
Visitation will be at the Beeler-Gores Funeral Home in Middleville on Saturday August 19, 2023
from 10 AM to 11:30 AM followed by a funeral service at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church,
Middleville from NOON to 1:00 PM with Pastor Peter Berg officiating, followed by a luncheon
at 1:00 PM. Burial service will be at Mt. Hope Cemetery in Middleville at 3:00 PM.
In Lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to a charity of your choice, Good
Shepherd Lutheran Church, Hillsdale College Thomas R. Hamilton Memorial Scholarship Fund,
or The Thomas R. Hamilton Memorial Scholarship Barry Community Foundation. Please visit www. beelergoresfuneral. com to share a memory or to leave a condolence message for Mrs. Hamilton's family.Show more
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