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Ruth Ann Hieronymus

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[June 30, 2021]  ATLANTA - Ruth Ann Hieronymus, 86, of Atlanta, passed away Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2020, at Memorial Medical Center in Springfield with loving family members by her side.

Celebration of Life:  July 4, 2021 (Ruth Ann's birthday) at 2 p.m. at the Atlanta Christian Church

Obituary

Ruth Ann Hieronymus, 86, of Atlanta, passed away Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2020, at Memorial Medical Center in Springfield with loving family members by her side.

Ruth Ann was born on July 4, 1934, the sixth of six children, to Rev. Austin P. and Ada Benjamin in Charleston, West Virginia. She graduated from Medaryville (Ind.) High School in 1952 as class valedictorian. She attended Lincoln Bible Institute (now Lincoln Christian University) where she met the love of her life, the Rev. Lynn Hieronymus, from Atlanta. They married Aug. 16, 1953 in Attica, Ind. He preceded her in death on Dec. 16, 1989.

Ruth Ann served with Lynn in ministries at Attica (Ind.) Christian Church, Cicero (Ind.) Christian Church, and Eminence Christian Church in rural Atlanta. They were a good team serving the Lord for 36 years together. She always helped in the music and children’s departments, and loved playing the piano for services and singing solos, duets, and trios. She especially liked helping with the children’s Christmas programs and Vacation Bible School.

Born on the 4th of July, Ruth Ann was a firecracker in many ways. She was very patriotic, often decked out in her favorite colors: red, white and blue. She told her young son that all the fireworks on the 4th of July were for her.

Ruth Ann did not know a stranger and was known for her gift of gab. She once got off the phone after taking a lengthy call and was asked by Lynn, "Who was on the phone? She said, “I don’t know. It was a wrong number.”

That was Ruth Ann. She was the most caring and loving person you would ever know. She overcame hardships as an adolescent, and sorrow later in life to help others through their difficult times.

Ruth Ann was famous for her “Ruth Coins,” which she gladly gave out by the thousands to anyone she “caught for doing something good.”

She was affectionately known by many names: Mom, Grandma, GG, Grandma Hi, Mrs. Hi, Ma Hi, and Redbird Ruth. She was called by all a friend.

She loved the St. Louis Cardinals, sending updates to her son daily throughout the baseball season. Redbird Ruth shined at Busch Stadium this season, in the midst of the pandemic, with a life-size cutout of her featured in the stands.

After Lynn passed away, Ruth Ann (Ma Hi) took over his role as "Godfather" of Timothy Hall at Lincoln Christian College, caring for and befriending the students who lived there.

Ruth Ann worked at the Atlanta Grade School Library for 27 years and served as the crossing guard for 30 years.

She worked at the Atlanta Public Library for 24 years, serving as the children’s librarian. She loved serving as the town and library’s official greeter and ambassador to its many visitors from all over the world traveling on Route 66.

Mrs. Hi was named as the 2004 Grand Marshall for the Atlanta Fall Festival for her years of community service. She and her dear friend, Betty Jo Phillips, were famous for their “Sour Notes” duet and sang for community programs for several years.

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Ruth Ann was the Honorary Chairperson for the 2012 Relay for Life of Logan County. She was a three-time cancer survivor and served as a Reach to Recovery Volunteer and was captain of the Northern Lites Team for 19 years and was an inspiration to many.

In 2013, she was honored by Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn as Illinois Volunteer of the Year.

She was honored by Mayor Keith Snyder of Lincoln in 2014 for being a Foster Grandparent at Washington-Monroe Elementary in the Second Grade for 11 years.

Ruth Ann was a lifetime member of Lincoln Christian University Alumni and the Abraham Lincoln Hospital Auxiliary.

She was employed by Community Action Partnership of Central Illinois. She also served on the Board of Directors. She had to retire in Dec. 2015 due to her health.

She moved into the Christian Village in Lincoln, Ill. in 2016 and continued her phone ministry and sending cards, encouraging others near and far. She did not allow the walls of the nursing home to constrain her outreach.

She loved and cherished her two sons, Kent (Cari) of Atlanta and Kevin (Kami) of Princeton, Ill., who survive. She probably talked (bragged) about them more than she should have.

She also loved and cherished her four grandchildren: Dr. Staci Hieronymus of Atlanta, Joshua Hieronymus of Elgin, Brooke Hieronymus of Kettering, Ohio, and Brynn Hieronymus of Princeton; and her great-grandchildren: Azul, Jacinth and Magenta Kong of Atlanta.

She is also survived by her nieces and nephews who she loved dearly: Joy Huston Rock, Carol Huston Watts, Joyce Glenn, Marilyn Boardman, Letitia Benjamin, Tom Clark, Ross Clark, Mark Huston, Stanley McCarter, David McCarter and Andrew Benjamin.

She was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, and five siblings: Esther Huston, Lois McCarter, Mary Clark, Dr. Paul Benjamin, and Ellen Virginia Benjamin in infancy.

A private graveside service will be held.

The family is planning a virtual memorial on Sunday, Dec. 27, 2020.

A celebration of Redbird Ruth’s Life is also being planned on the 4th of July, 2021, when we pray we can all get together for her birthday.

Memorials may be directed to the Dr. M. Lynn and Ruth Ann Hieronymus Memorial Scholarship Fund at Lincoln Christian University, 100 Campus Drive, Lincoln, Illinois, 62656.

Final arrangements are entrusted with Quiram-Peasley Funeral Home of Atlanta.


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