Obituary index

L. Ruth Michaels

[May 26, 2009]  WAYNESVILLE -- L. Ruth Michaels, 87, of Waynesville, died peacefully at home on Sunday, May 24, 2009, at 4:10 a.m. with her husband and daughters at her side. Once an angel on earth, Ruth is now among God's heavenly angels.

Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Quiram-Peasley Funeral Home in Atlanta.

A celebration of her life will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday at the Waynesville United Church, with Pastor Andy Maxwell officiating.

Burial will be in Evergreen Cemetery in Waynesville.

Ruth was born Oct. 4, 1921, in rural DeWitt County to Lennis and Esther Miller Durbin. She married John Gerald Michaels on May 10, 1942.

She is survived by her husband; two daughters, Sheryl (and Stan) Morgan of Champaign and Janice (and Harry) Dellinger of Normal; two grandchildren, Neil (and Jennifer) Dellinger of Broken Arrow, Okla., and Thressa Crosby of Columbus, Ga.; two sisters, Mary Wickenhauser of Clinton and Doris Cohenour of Wapella; two brothers, Jack (and Jean) of Littlefield, Texas, and Jim (and Jerri) of Clinton; a great-grandson, Logan Dellinger; and several nieces and nephews. Another great-grandchild will be born in October, a sibling to Logan: thus "the circle of life."

Two brothers, Stan and Gary, preceded her in death, and an infant son, Allen Gerald Michaels, died in 1951.

Ruth was one of the founders of Vacation Bible School at the Waynesville United Methodist Church and didn't miss a summer working or visiting with VBS. She served as a lay member to the Methodist Annual Conference and was a member of the Women's Club.

Ruth and Gerald were instrumental in the groundbreaking of Midwest Distribution Center in Chatham.

She was an accomplished seamstress, a talented artist, an eloquent writer and an excellent cook. She enjoyed sewing school bags for Haiti, collecting and sorting donations for various Methodist missions, and baking gingerbread cookies for the Apple & Pork Festival. She also enjoyed growing orchids and was proud of her lemon tree, which has produced fruit for many years.

She and her husband enjoyed traveling and visiting family and friends. They spent a week each of six summers doing mission work at a Native American school in Farmington, N.M. They traveled many miles by motor home, white-water rafted and Ruth flew in a hang glider.

She was a graduate of Wapella High School.

The family thanks everyone for their support and kindness during this difficult time.

Memorials may be made to the Waynesville United Methodist Church, Waynesville Volunteer Fire Department or a charity of the donor's choice.

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