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Ruth Hawkins Obituary
August 5, 1925 - April 27, 2025
Ruth M. Hawkins , 99, of Palestine, W.V., passed away peacefully on April 27, 2025, in Massachusetts where her son resides. Born in Wirt County, W.V. in 1925, Ruth and her family relocated to Charleston in 1933. After graduating from Charleston High School, she attended Eastern Illinois University where she earned her bachelor's and master's degrees in 1947 and 1968 respectively. After graduating in 1947, she taught in elementary schools in Flint, Mich. and Kansas, Ill. before teaching at Oakland's Lake Crest Elementary School from 1958 to 1974, where she was a coordinating teacher for Eastern's student teaching program. She later served as assistant professor of elementary education at Eastern from 1988 to 1995. From 1974 until 1988 she was employed by the Houghton-Mifflin Company as an educational consultant for elementary education.
In 1974 she was honored as Illinois Teacher of the Year. In 2012 Ruth received the Outstanding Graduate Alumni Award from Eastern.
Ruth was active in the Coles County Master Gardeners and had a particular interest in herbs and prairie plants. She was a member of First Presbyterian Church. In addition to gardening, Ruth's primary retirement interest was genealogical research into her West Virginia family roots.
In 2017, Ruth completed the arc of her long life by returning to Somerville Fork in West Virginia where she had spent her earliest years. Although removed from West Virginia by the economic and social disruption of the Great Depression, it was a place and its people that her heart refused to leave and to whom she gladly returned in the closing years of her life.
Ruth was preceded in death by her husband, Robert Hawkins, who died in 1974; a daughter, Jane Ellen who died in 1952; her parents, Arthur and Elsie Wiseman of Charleston, Ill.; two sisters, Dolly Wiseman Jewell and Margaret Ann Wiseman, and one brother, Charles. She is survived by a son and daughter-in-law, Thomas and Jan Hawkins; two grandsons, Robert and Jonathan with their spouses Judy Fan and Agathe Hawkins-Pierot; and one great-granddaughter, Daphne Hawkins-Pierot.
A private service for Ruth's family will be held on May 31. 2025.
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Sponsored by Douglass Funeral Service.
6 Entries
Marjorie Hoedebecke
June 2, 2025
Teaching both wonderful brothers, Robert and Jonathan, in third grade at Carl Sandburg Elementary School in Charleston IL was indeed one of the highlights of my career! Getting to know their parents, Thomas and Jan, and their sweet grandmother Ruth was an added bonus! I send much love to this beautiful and caring family at this time of remembrance. I am grateful to read the obituary and learn that the brilliant young men I knew have found wives and and one daughter!
May God continue to shower the Hawkins family with blessings!
Pat Holycross
May 28, 2025
Ruth was a wonderful neighbor. I enjoyed seeing her in her flower beds and chatting with her. She was so good to her mother. A kind soul.
Mandi (Finley) Starwalt
May 28, 2025
Ruth was my next door neighbor growing up in Charleston and we were frequently visiting at her house and watching her garden in her yard. I have very fond memories of time with her and visits with her mother as well. Sending love to her family.
Shirley Redden Willison
May 28, 2025
Mrs. Hawkins was my 4th grade teacher at the old Oakland Grade School on Washington Street. I remember one school day, she brought in home made, hand churned butter and saltine crackers for us classmates to try. That was the first time I had ever had real butter and I remember that day so clearly.
Tom and I went through all 12 grades of school together and we walked together down the isle for our senior graduation.
I have fond memories of Tom and his Mother. She was a sweet lady, always smiling. Tom, I am so very sorry for your loss. Shirley
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Deatrice Greathouse
May 28, 2025
Ruth, Robert and her son Tom were my country neighbors in Oakland for many years and I loved going to their house. Ruth was always ready to teach me something and Tom was generous to share his time with my brother Greg and me. I remember delivering flowers to her on Mayday-knocking on the door and running down the the road so it could be a secret gift. She was a teacher at Oakland and I always called her Mrs Hawkins at school but Ruth during summer vacation and other times at home. As I grew up she would always greet me with a smile and ask about my mom. She took care of her mom and my mom and I would stop by and visit with her in Charleston. What a lovely woman with many interests! Thank you for sharing her passing It brings back wonderful memories of her life!
Kimberly Douglas Hancock
May 27, 2025
Mrs. Hawkins was my 4th grade teacher. What a patient woman and great educator. She taught our whole 4th grade class to knit! I have very found memories of being her student.
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