Ruth J. Harris

Ruth J. Harris Battle Creek Ruth J. Harris of Battle Creek passed away on December 26, 2009 at the Sunrise Assisted Living Center in Plymouth, Michigan a couple of months after celebrating her 90th birthday. She was the youngest of six children of the late Theon and Nellie (Sharp) Williams, born in Jackson in 1919. Two sisters and three brothers preceded her. In 2003, she was widowed from Norman Harris after 65 years of marriage. Ruth has four sons: Bob (Tricia) Harris of Chesterfield, Virginia; Jim (Judy) Harris of Canton, Michigan; John (Diana) Harris of Cary, NC; and Rick (Marlene) Harris of Battle Creek. Also surviving are seven grandchildren, six great grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren. A graduate of Jackson High School, Ruth was an accomplished classical pianist and played for several dance bands while in school and prior to WW II. During the war she moved her boys to Monterey, California. to be with her husband prior to his military deployment. They moved to Battle Creek in 1951 where she became a "life member" of the Community Hospital Auxiliary, serving as its President and in other leadership capacities, and accumulated over 20,000 volunteer hours. She was also active in many of Lakeview Schools' activities (where all sons graduated). Ruth loved traveling with and to visit her family, whether to Colorado, Mackinac Island, Texas, Singapore, California, North Carolina, Virginia, Florida, or Hawaii. She was a 50+ year member of the First Presbyterian Church. The family will receive friends from 11:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. today, December 30, 2009 at Shaw Funeral Home where funeral services will take place at 12:30 p.m. Her grandson, Pastor David Harris will officiate. Interment, Fort Custer National Cemetery, Augusta. Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer's Association or a charity of one's choice. The family is being served by Shaw Funeral Home. www.shawfuneralhome.com