Ruth Miller Ellinghaus

1924 - 2022

Ruth Miller Ellinghaus

April 7, 1924 - February 16, 2022

Ruth Ellinghaus, 97, a former Lexington resident for almost 40 years, passed away peacefully on February 16, 2022.

She was born Ruth Travers Kelly in Camden, N.J., on April 7, 1924. She graduated from Forest Park High School in Baltimore, Md., where she formed lasting friendships and created fond lifelong memories. She also graduated from Southern Seminary in Buena Vista.

In 1945, she married Earl A. Miller a VMI graduate, class of 1944. They resided in Virginia, Illinois, Ohio and New Hampshire and raised five children. They retired in Lexington, Va., in the early 1980's.

Ruth, a real charmer, was a baseball, speedskating, and hockey mom. She loved spending summers in Ocean City, N.J., floating on her surfboard on Baboosic Lake in N.H., and her pool in Lexington. She also volunteered for various causes throughout her life including the Stonewall Jackson Hospital Thrift Store.

She will be remembered for her love for her children, her warm and generous heart and her gift of gab.

She was predeceased by her husband Earl of 46 years; her partner of 15 years, Lewis "Bud" Ford of Lexington; and her husband of 12 years, William M. Ellinghaus of Bronxville, N.Y., who recently died at 99. She was also predeceased by her dear sister, Mary Jane "Kelly" Paxton of the Baltimore area, and her sons, Frank (Doug) Miller and Earl Jr. (Sandy) Miller.

Family members include daughters, Bobby Goodspeed (George) of Gardnerville, Nev., Gayle Nevins (Robert) of Crested Butte, Colo., and son, Kelly Miller of Buena Vista, Va. Grandchildren include Mena Dedmon (Adam) and Rebecca Goodspeed of Minden, Nev., Amanda Miller of Newberg, Ore., and Travis Miller of Collierstown, Va. She also had five great-grandchildren. She is also survived by Guy and Darcy "Boo" Ford of Columbus, Ohio, eight adult Ellinghaus children and four adult Paxton children.