Ruth Ilene Donoho

Ruth Ilene Donoho, 80, died Friday, December 11, 2015, at Indian Hills Retirement Village surrounded by her children and grandchildren. She was born January 30, 1935, in the American Bottoms to her parents John and Cora (Corzette) Grimes.   Ruth attended Wheeling High School, and though she did not graduate, she later earned her GED. When she was 18, Ruth met her future husband, Nolan; their courtship was short, but it almost didn't occur at all since Nolan stood Ruth up on their first date. However, Ruth gave Nolan a second chance and they were married a mere three months later on June 8, 1953. They were blessed with 7 children--Bob, Mary, Diana and Debbie, Martha, Rusty, and Dusty--and celebrated 58 years of marriage. When her children were little, she stayed at home to take care of them. Ruth made clothes for all of her daughters as they were growing up, and she would be putting the finishing touches on garments as they were getting ready to walk out the door wearing them. Ruth and Nolan also raised a garden each year. They canned as much produce as they could from their bounty to feed their ever growing family throughout the year, as well as the one or two guests who always seemed to be present at their table. Ruth also helped Nolan milk cows when they owned dairy cattle during two different times in their lives. After her children were grown, Ruth worked as a clerk at the Ludlow Grocery Store and as a cook at Southwest High School. Ruth also worked at Livingston County Development Center and Community Options, where she enjoyed spending time with disabled individuals. Ruth also regularly attended services at Saint Columban's Catholic Church.   Though Ruth was busy the majority of the time, she had several hobbies she enjoyed. Ruth and Nolan both had a passion for travelling and camping; they visited nearly every state. Besides travelling, Ruth loved nothing more than to visit a garage sale or thrift store, and anyone who went with her knew that they needed to be patient because she wouldn't leave until she had sifted through absolutely everything there was to look at. Ruth was also a talented painter, crafter, and seamstress. Reading was another hobby of Ruth's. It was rare to visit her without finding a stack of books that she was planning to read. In addition to crafting and reading, Ruth delighted in volunteering at Christ Love In Action at the Utica Baptist Church. More than anything, Ruth loved spending time with her children and grandchildren.   Ruth was preceded in death by her parents, John and Cora Grimes; husband Nolan; infant sister Phyllis Ilene; brother Carl and wife, Goldie; brother Junior and wife Ida Belle; grandson T.J. Webb; and son-in-law Gerald Heins, Jr. She is survived by her sister Wanda Newton and husband Don of Colona, IL; sister Maxine Cobb and husband Artie of Colona, IL; brother Ronnie Grimes and wife Linda of Colona, IL; son Bob and wife Ellen of Ludlow, MO; daughter, Mary Wright and husband Mike of Utica, MO; daughter Diana Howe and husband Larry of Wheeling, MO; daughter Debbie Heins of Chillicothe, MO; daughter Martha and wife Isabelle of West Chester, OH; son Rusty of Utica, MO; son Dusty and wife Tara of Utica, MO; and 19 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.   Funeral services for Ruth are under the direction of Lindley Funeral Home in Chillicothe, MO. The funeral will be held Monday, December 14, 2015, at 10:30 a.m. at Lindley Funeral Home. Burial will be held in Resthaven Memorial Gardens in Chillicothe, MO.   Memorial contributions may be made to Livingston County Development Center and may be left at the funeral home or mailed to Lindley Funeral Home, P.O. Box 47, Chillicothe, MO 64601.