Ruth Naomi Baliles

Ruth Naomi (Hilbert) Baliles, 95, passed away early Sunday morning, February 19, 2023, at Peter Becker Community in Harleysville, PA. She was preceded in death by her husband, Herman Lee Baliles, on May 2, 2018. They were married for 64 years at the time of his passing, and together they enjoyed pastoral ministry for over 50 years. Prior to moving to Harleysville, PA seven years ago, they had most recently resided in Chambersburg, PA and New Creek, WV.
Born April 9, 1927, in Hagerstown, IN, Ruth was a daughter of the late Carl B. and Grace (Shock) Hilbert. She was a graduate of Hagerstown High School and earned her bachelor's in education from Manchester College in Manchester, IN.
Mrs. Baliles was a life-long educator; teaching first grade, teaching those with special needs, teaching all ages in the churches they served, and teaching piano to beginners of all ages. She was known for innovative and individualized problem solving for those with unique learning styles or challenges. She was also known for her love of words and for her witty replies. When asked in recent years how she slept, for instance, she would sometimes reply, "I don't know. I didn't stay awake to find out." When asked as a young mother of seven children, "Isn't that a handful?", she would reply, "Yes, and I can't think of anything better to have my hands full of!"
Mrs. Baliles was a member of Indian Creek Church of the Brethren.
Her interests included family, music, children's ministries and delightfully, bread baking. She was also an early proponent of and an advocate for healthier food options, as those who experienced her carob chip cookies can testify. In an interesting twist, this lover of health foods went back to her childhood roots in her later years as she resumed indulging her love of desserts, especially ice cream. Ruth was blessed with many opportunities to travel far from her Indiana farm home beginnings, but always enjoyed returning and smelling that "fresh country air." Her tenacity and determination to grow took Ruth to college and seminary and then to places such as Austria, Germany, Israel, and Nigeria, as well as many places in the United States. Most of those trips were related to some form of volunteer service or a church related event.
Ruth is survived by six children, Timothy L. Baliles and his wife, Patty, of Bonsall, CA, David W. Baliles and his wife, Jean, of New Holland, PA, Michael J. Baliles of Frostburg, MD, Anna L. Keener and her husband, Fred, of Hagerstown, MD, Mark E. Baliles and his wife, Reba, of Harleysville, PA, and Paul E. Baliles and his wife, Susan, of Evanston, IL. She is also survived by 23 grandchildren and 15 great grandchildren.
In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by a daughter, Rebecca Sue Armstrong; two brothers, Lewis Hilbert and Lloyd Hilbert; and two sisters, Margaret Dilling and Mildred Shellenberger.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend her visitation and funeral service on Friday, February 24th, 2023 at Indian Creek Church of the Brethren, 821 Main St, Harleysville, PA. The family will receive friends from 1-1:45 pm. The service will begin at 2 pm and burial will follow in the adjoining church cemetery. For those desiring, contributions may be made in her memory to the Peter Becker Benevolence Fund, 800 Maple Ave, Harleysville, PA 19438. Funeral arrangements are being handled by Williams-Bergey-Koffel Funeral Home, Inc. of Franconia, PA. Online condolences may be made to the family at www.WilliamsBergeyKoffel.com.