Frank & Bright Funeral Home
Ruth Wilson
Jan 1st, 1970 - May 3rd, 2021Ruth Elaine Wilson, 90, of Louisville, Illinois, departed her loving family on May 3, 2021.
She was born in Farina, Illinois, to Glenn and Esther (Soldner) Wells. She was raised on their farm with her three brothers and one sister. After high school she briefly worked as a telephone operator until she attended Southern Illinois University – Carbondale.
She married Robert Eugene Wilson on August 11, 1949, and together they raised 4 energetic girls. During this time, she completed her education at McKendree College. After 34 successful years of teaching at Oskaloosa Grade School and North Clay Elementary School in Louisville, she retired to enjoy time with her husband, family and friends. She enjoyed cooking, quilting, attending bluegrass music fests with her husband of 59 years and entertaining her grandchildren. Ruth (and Bob) loved to watch their grandchildren play sports. Ruth was also an avid cross-stitcher and cross stitched over 100 quilts.
Ruth is fondly remembered by many as Grandma Ruth and Grandma “Skittles”. She enjoyed making treats for her grandchildren to take to school. She was also an expert at making and baking noodles, sugar cookies, chocolates and pies. It was not unusual for her to make over 40 pies for family gatherings. She took great pride in planning and hosting the Wells Family Reunion for many years, where her pies and endless homemade treats were savored and enjoyed by all. Grandma Ruth also hosted many slumber parties for her grandkids and great-grandkids. The Grand Ole Opry was frequently enjoyed during these ever-popular sleepovers. Ruth loved to travel and visit her daughters and their families. In recent years, Ruth enjoyed spending Thanksgiving week in Pleasant Plains at Jane’s. She gave new meaning to the term, “shop till you drop” on Black Friday.
She is survived by daughters, Joan Long (Phillip) of North Port, FL, Jean Porter (Rick) of Flora, IL, Jill Holman (Jon) of Mt. Vernon, IL, Jane Mills (Norm Ross) of Pleasant Plains, IL; grandchildren, Bradley Long of Carmel, IN, Staci Countryman (Todd) of Flora, IL, Mindy McDermott (Tim) of Waterloo, IL, Emily Porter (Nate Davis) of Aurora, CO, Eric Porter (Rachel) of Johnsonville, IL, Christi Card (Milo) of Kell, IL, Lindsey Holman (Luke Adams) of Aurora, CO, Cory Small of Champaign IL, Blake Mills of Springfield, IL, Reid Mills (Katie) of Palmyra IL; great grandchildren, Shay, Luca, Braxton, Jaryn, Porter, Riley, Chelsey, Nekai, Kaleya, Kylar, Alexia, Eric, Ryver, Dustin, Karissa, McKenzie, Corbin, Hudson; great-great-grandchildren, Isabella and Xander; brother, Leland (Bernadine) Wells and sister, Donna Mae (Robert) Rickey. Ruth was preceded in death by her parents; husband; grandson, Jeffrey Long; and brothers, Charles Wells and George Cline Wells.
A funeral ceremony for Ruth Wilson will begin at 1 p.m. Thursday, May 6, 2021, at Frank & Bright Funeral Home in Flora. Interment will follow in Orchard Hill Cemetery, Louisville. Visitation will be from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. on Thursday at the funeral home. Memorial donations are suggested to either the Burge House, Louisville Baptist Church, or Clay County Hospice, and these will be accepted through the funeral home. To share a memory or condolence, visit: www.frankandbright.com
The family would like to extend special thanks to the following community partnerships for their contributions toward the comfort and excellent care of Ruth: Burge House, Clay County Hospital, Clay Medical Center staff, Clay County Hospice and First Baptist Church Minister Kelly Carruthers and congregation.