Ruth Adams
Born January 15, 1925 - Died April 26, 2000




Ruth Adams, 75, of McLeansboro, died Wednesday, April 26, 2000, at Hamilton Memorial Hospital of respiratory failure.

She was a registered nurse in Hamilton County schools for 22 years and past director of nurses at Hamilton Memorial Hospital.

Ruth was an avid golfer, tennis buff, genalogist, and bridge enthusiast.

A graduate of McLeansboro Township High School Class of 1942, Ruth continued her education at the University of Illinois, graduating the Julie F. Burnham School of Nursing, Champaign, in 1946. She also completed nurse cadet training at Vanderbilt Hospital in Nashville, Tennessee prior to graduation. In the early 1970's Ruth decided to return to school, receiving her Bachelor of Arts degree from Eastern Illinois University in 1973. A Master of Science degree in Health Education, followed from SIU-Carbondale in 1979. Academic honors included membership in Eta Sigma Gamma and Phi Kappa Phi Honor Societies. The American Association of School Health invited Ruth to present her graduate thesis at their annual covention in Dallas, Texas, in October 1980.

She was Illinois School Nurse of the Year in 1988. She was a nurse in the Army Cadet Corps during World War II.

In the early years of her career, Ruth was employed as an R.N. at several nearby community hospitals. Ruth was named Surgery Supervisor when the new Hamilton Memorial Hospital opened in 1960, and later became its Director, a position she held until 1966. In 1966 M.C.C.S. No. 100 (later to become Unit No. 10), hired Ruth as their first school nurse. From 1966 until her retirement in 1987. Ruth bandaged many knees, removed dozens of splinters, checked hundreds of fevers, and answered pressing questions from worried parents. She was a member of the First Baptist Church, Daughters of the American Revolution and Illinois School Nurses Association.

Surviving are her husband of 53 years, James W.; two daughters, Wendelin Ann Adams of Tulsa, Okla., and Jan Ellyn Belva of Mount Vernon; two sons, Kendall Reid of Broken Arrow, Okla., and Stan Allan of New Freedom, Pa.; 10 grandchildren, Kristin Frost, Kerri Sallusti, Kelly Owens, April Belva, Nicole Wilburn, Reid, Keeling and Kasey Adams, and Brandi Ray and Lyndi Tennyson; and four great-grandchildren.

Funeral services were at 11:00 a.m. Friday, April 28, 2000 at Harre Funeral Home. Rev. John Denham officiated. Burial was in Odd Fellows Cemetery.