Sally Ranes Middleton, 94, flew softly to heaven in the night of Monday, April 16th, like a butterfly that emerges from the cocoon of its previous, less glorious life. Her beloved daughter and niece were beside her in her Palm Beach Gardens home, where she had been three days in hospice care after a recent stroke.
Formerly a resident of Centerville, Iowa where she was born and raised, she flourished 57 years in Palm Beach County, the last 5 as a widow, her husband, Bob having predeceased her. Sally reunited with him in heaven, with twin infant sons, with daughter Connie and grandson Brandon. She is survived by 5 devoted children and their spouses; 9 grandchildren; and 10 great-grands.
Sally was the first born of Albert and Emma Ranes who gave her the names of their own mothers, her English grandmother being Sylvania Philby-Cowles and her Dutch grandmother being Marie Schoonover-Ranes. She also carried the same nickname as g-g-mother Sarah 'Sally' Miller-Ranes who was of Scottish descent. Little Sally Brickdust (a name her daddy used when teasing her) had every attention and privilege that first born children uniquely enjoy.
Although she arrived in the middle of the roaring 20's, there was very little roaring about her parents' farming families, or her ideal American hometown of Centerville. It was a small city, population-wise, and fairly cosmopolitan with immigrants of many nationalities, but it was a sprawling city, area-wise, dotted with rural farms and several coal mines on the outskirts of town. The Town Square was perfectly framed by thriving businesses, homes and a splendid library.
The Ranes family lived for a time in Illinois where her father found work in the Great Depression, but afterward returned to Centerville and settled at '409', their house off the town square. From home, Sally could walk to her friends, school, library or church. Her 'Sweet Sixteen' party was held in an upstairs banquet room on the 'square', where such parties typically had some dancing but mostly socializing and enjoying punch, cake, and perhaps a 'relish tray' or 'individual nut cups' to snack on. She had the world on a string, and was sitting on a rainbow, literally, as she was involved briefly in the Rainbow girls.
Sally learned to play the piano on an upright piano that her great Gramma Sarah (Ogden) Philby had brought to America as an English immigrant. The old instrument had been played so much and by so many that the ivories were worn to the wood on certain keys. As immigrants, her GGma and GGpa initially lived in the family's hotel near Pittsburgh, then in their own log cabin before removing westward and owning a large boarding house in Iowa. Not only did they and their children play the old upright, but their hotel and boarding house was continually filled with music of visitors from faraway places. GGpa Thomas Philby was a Professional Tuner as well businessman/mine owner in Brazil, Iowa.
Sylvania/Sally Marie loved to sing and starred in a few high school plays, a natural social butterfly! She loved poetry and was apt to recite to you a poem or stanza from memory. One could say socializing was the only 'sport' that interested her, and she excelled at it, easily flashing her perfect, beautiful, broad smile to strangers or chatting them up with pleasantries interspersed with mid-western humor or sayings. Sadly, the 'butterfly' part of her could not come to terms with her choice of a quiet, scientist-type, sport enthusiast husband, albeit extremely handsome, trim, accomplished, disciplined and gentle Christian man.
She came to faith in Christ when involved with Centerville Methodist youth choir, remaining a committed Christian and lifelong community helper. She was fascinated with all of creation, having deep love for her children, for all children really. She clipped articles and pictures for her mother/child scrapbook, including many artistic renditions of the madonna and famous mothers. Indeed, her first job as a preteen was as the Mothers' Helper at the country club. She excelled at caring for babies and small children, describing the diaper laundering (by the pails full) as the unpleasant but necessary job responsibility. After a season of living/working as a Data Processor in Savannah, Georgia, she then worked as a Playground Director in San Francisco, Calif. for which she received awards from the City for her work with children. Before committing to mothering as a full time occupation (she mothered 6), she worked in the manufacturing dept. in Denver, Colorado at her newlywed husband's college.
She was an avid naturalist, a bit of a textile artist with her sewing machine, a hobbyist in scrap booking, calligraphy and various arts/crafts. In later life, Sally enjoyed evening bike rides and tap dancing with local performance groups.
Having fully lived 94 years, 7 months and 2 days, and carried by sons Mark and David; grands Ryan S. and Ryan W.; friends T.G.,Thomas and Christian, Sally was laid to finally rest in West Palm with her husband Bob, sisters Dona and Bonnie, and parents Albert and Emma.
Visitation was on April 22nd at Royal Palm Memorial Gardens/Cemetery at 2pm, and the funeral service was at 3 PM with Rev. Tim Smiley officiating and a songstress sang Ava Maria, and Golden Bells. Interment followed where participants symbolically let flutter her many-colored bird feather collection atop her casket as it was lowered into the earth.
Formerly a resident of Centerville, Iowa where she was born and raised, she flourished 57 years in Palm Beach County, the last 5 as a widow, her husband, Bob having predeceased her. Sally reunited with him in heaven, with twin infant sons, with daughter Connie and grandson Brandon. She is survived by 5 devoted children and their spouses; 9 grandchildren; and 10 great-grands.
Sally was the first born of Albert and Emma Ranes who gave her the names of their own mothers, her English grandmother being Sylvania Philby-Cowles and her Dutch grandmother being Marie Schoonover-Ranes. She also carried the same nickname as g-g-mother Sarah 'Sally' Miller-Ranes who was of Scottish descent. Little Sally Brickdust (a name her daddy used when teasing her) had every attention and privilege that first born children uniquely enjoy.
Although she arrived in the middle of the roaring 20's, there was very little roaring about her parents' farming families, or her ideal American hometown of Centerville. It was a small city, population-wise, and fairly cosmopolitan with immigrants of many nationalities, but it was a sprawling city, area-wise, dotted with rural farms and several coal mines on the outskirts of town. The Town Square was perfectly framed by thriving businesses, homes and a splendid library.
The Ranes family lived for a time in Illinois where her father found work in the Great Depression, but afterward returned to Centerville and settled at '409', their house off the town square. From home, Sally could walk to her friends, school, library or church. Her 'Sweet Sixteen' party was held in an upstairs banquet room on the 'square', where such parties typically had some dancing but mostly socializing and enjoying punch, cake, and perhaps a 'relish tray' or 'individual nut cups' to snack on. She had the world on a string, and was sitting on a rainbow, literally, as she was involved briefly in the Rainbow girls.
Sally learned to play the piano on an upright piano that her great Gramma Sarah (Ogden) Philby had brought to America as an English immigrant. The old instrument had been played so much and by so many that the ivories were worn to the wood on certain keys. As immigrants, her GGma and GGpa initially lived in the family's hotel near Pittsburgh, then in their own log cabin before removing westward and owning a large boarding house in Iowa. Not only did they and their children play the old upright, but their hotel and boarding house was continually filled with music of visitors from faraway places. GGpa Thomas Philby was a Professional Tuner as well businessman/mine owner in Brazil, Iowa.
Sylvania/Sally Marie loved to sing and starred in a few high school plays, a natural social butterfly! She loved poetry and was apt to recite to you a poem or stanza from memory. One could say socializing was the only 'sport' that interested her, and she excelled at it, easily flashing her perfect, beautiful, broad smile to strangers or chatting them up with pleasantries interspersed with mid-western humor or sayings. Sadly, the 'butterfly' part of her could not come to terms with her choice of a quiet, scientist-type, sport enthusiast husband, albeit extremely handsome, trim, accomplished, disciplined and gentle Christian man.
She came to faith in Christ when involved with Centerville Methodist youth choir, remaining a committed Christian and lifelong community helper. She was fascinated with all of creation, having deep love for her children, for all children really. She clipped articles and pictures for her mother/child scrapbook, including many artistic renditions of the madonna and famous mothers. Indeed, her first job as a preteen was as the Mothers' Helper at the country club. She excelled at caring for babies and small children, describing the diaper laundering (by the pails full) as the unpleasant but necessary job responsibility. After a season of living/working as a Data Processor in Savannah, Georgia, she then worked as a Playground Director in San Francisco, Calif. for which she received awards from the City for her work with children. Before committing to mothering as a full time occupation (she mothered 6), she worked in the manufacturing dept. in Denver, Colorado at her newlywed husband's college.
She was an avid naturalist, a bit of a textile artist with her sewing machine, a hobbyist in scrap booking, calligraphy and various arts/crafts. In later life, Sally enjoyed evening bike rides and tap dancing with local performance groups.
Having fully lived 94 years, 7 months and 2 days, and carried by sons Mark and David; grands Ryan S. and Ryan W.; friends T.G.,Thomas and Christian, Sally was laid to finally rest in West Palm with her husband Bob, sisters Dona and Bonnie, and parents Albert and Emma.
Visitation was on April 22nd at Royal Palm Memorial Gardens/Cemetery at 2pm, and the funeral service was at 3 PM with Rev. Tim Smiley officiating and a songstress sang Ava Maria, and Golden Bells. Interment followed where participants symbolically let flutter her many-colored bird feather collection atop her casket as it was lowered into the earth.
Sally Ranes Middleton, 94, flew softly to heaven in the night of Monday, April 16th, like a butterfly that emerges from the cocoon of its previous, less glorious life. Her beloved daughter and niece were beside her in her Palm Beach Gardens home, where she had been three days in hospice care after a recent stroke.
Formerly a resident of Centerville, Iowa where she was born and raised, she flourished 57 years in Palm Beach County, the last 5 as a widow, her husband, Bob having predeceased her. Sally reunited with him in heaven, with twin infant sons, with daughter Connie and grandson Brandon. She is survived by 5 devoted children and their spouses; 9 grandchildren; and 10 great-grands.
Sally was the first born of Albert and Emma Ranes who gave her the names of their own mothers, her English grandmother being Sylvania Philby-Cowles and her Dutch grandmother being Marie Schoonover-Ranes. She also carried the same nickname as g-g-mother Sarah 'Sally' Miller-Ranes who was of Scottish descent. Little Sally Brickdust (a name her daddy used when teasing her) had every attention and privilege that first born children uniquely enjoy.
Although she arrived in the middle of the roaring 20's, there was very little roaring about her parents' farming families, or her ideal American hometown of Centerville. It was a small city, population-wise, and fairly cosmopolitan with immigrants of many nationalities, but it was a sprawling city, area-wise, dotted with rural farms and several coal mines on the outskirts of town. The Town Square was perfectly framed by thriving businesses, homes and a splendid library.
The Ranes family lived for a time in Illinois where her father found work in the Great Depression, but afterward returned to Centerville and settled at '409', their house off the town square. From home, Sally could walk to her friends, school, library or church. Her 'Sweet Sixteen' party was held in an upstairs banquet room on the 'square', where such parties typically had some dancing but mostly socializing and enjoying punch, cake, and perhaps a 'relish tray' or 'individual nut cups' to snack on. She had the world on a string, and was sitting on a rainbow, literally, as she was involved briefly in the Rainbow girls.
Sally learned to play the piano on an upright piano that her great Gramma Sarah (Ogden) Philby had brought to America as an English immigrant. The old instrument had been played so much and by so many that the ivories were worn to the wood on certain keys. As immigrants, her GGma and GGpa initially lived in the family's hotel near Pittsburgh, then in their own log cabin before removing westward and owning a large boarding house in Iowa. Not only did they and their children play the old upright, but their hotel and boarding house was continually filled with music of visitors from faraway places. GGpa Thomas Philby was a Professional Tuner as well businessman/mine owner in Brazil, Iowa.
Sylvania/Sally Marie loved to sing and starred in a few high school plays, a natural social butterfly! She loved poetry and was apt to recite to you a poem or stanza from memory. One could say socializing was the only 'sport' that interested her, and she excelled at it, easily flashing her perfect, beautiful, broad smile to strangers or chatting them up with pleasantries interspersed with mid-western humor or sayings. Sadly, the 'butterfly' part of her could not come to terms with her choice of a quiet, scientist-type, sport enthusiast husband, albeit extremely handsome, trim, accomplished, disciplined and gentle Christian man.
She came to faith in Christ when involved with Centerville Methodist youth choir, remaining a committed Christian and lifelong community helper. She was fascinated with all of creation, having deep love for her children, for all children really. She clipped articles and pictures for her mother/child scrapbook, including many artistic renditions of the madonna and famous mothers. Indeed, her first job as a preteen was as the Mothers' Helper at the country club. She excelled at caring for babies and small children, describing the diaper laundering (by the pails full) as the unpleasant but necessary job responsibility. After a season of living/working as a Data Processor in Savannah, Georgia, she then worked as a Playground Director in San Francisco, Calif. for which she received awards from the City for her work with children. Before committing to mothering as a full time occupation (she mothered 6), she worked in the manufacturing dept. in Denver, Colorado at her newlywed husband's college.
She was an avid naturalist, a bit of a textile artist with her sewing machine, a hobbyist in scrap booking, calligraphy and various arts/crafts. In later life, Sally enjoyed evening bike rides and tap dancing with local performance groups.
Having fully lived 94 years, 7 months and 2 days, and carried by sons Mark and David; grands Ryan S. and Ryan W.; friends T.G.,Thomas and Christian, Sally was laid to finally rest in West Palm with her husband Bob, sisters Dona and Bonnie, and parents Albert and Emma.
Visitation was on April 22nd at Royal Palm Memorial Gardens/Cemetery at 2pm, and the funeral service was at 3 PM with Rev. Tim Smiley officiating and a songstress sang Ava Maria, and Golden Bells. Interment followed where participants symbolically let flutter her many-colored bird feather collection atop her casket as it was lowered into the earth.
Formerly a resident of Centerville, Iowa where she was born and raised, she flourished 57 years in Palm Beach County, the last 5 as a widow, her husband, Bob having predeceased her. Sally reunited with him in heaven, with twin infant sons, with daughter Connie and grandson Brandon. She is survived by 5 devoted children and their spouses; 9 grandchildren; and 10 great-grands.
Sally was the first born of Albert and Emma Ranes who gave her the names of their own mothers, her English grandmother being Sylvania Philby-Cowles and her Dutch grandmother being Marie Schoonover-Ranes. She also carried the same nickname as g-g-mother Sarah 'Sally' Miller-Ranes who was of Scottish descent. Little Sally Brickdust (a name her daddy used when teasing her) had every attention and privilege that first born children uniquely enjoy.
Although she arrived in the middle of the roaring 20's, there was very little roaring about her parents' farming families, or her ideal American hometown of Centerville. It was a small city, population-wise, and fairly cosmopolitan with immigrants of many nationalities, but it was a sprawling city, area-wise, dotted with rural farms and several coal mines on the outskirts of town. The Town Square was perfectly framed by thriving businesses, homes and a splendid library.
The Ranes family lived for a time in Illinois where her father found work in the Great Depression, but afterward returned to Centerville and settled at '409', their house off the town square. From home, Sally could walk to her friends, school, library or church. Her 'Sweet Sixteen' party was held in an upstairs banquet room on the 'square', where such parties typically had some dancing but mostly socializing and enjoying punch, cake, and perhaps a 'relish tray' or 'individual nut cups' to snack on. She had the world on a string, and was sitting on a rainbow, literally, as she was involved briefly in the Rainbow girls.
Sally learned to play the piano on an upright piano that her great Gramma Sarah (Ogden) Philby had brought to America as an English immigrant. The old instrument had been played so much and by so many that the ivories were worn to the wood on certain keys. As immigrants, her GGma and GGpa initially lived in the family's hotel near Pittsburgh, then in their own log cabin before removing westward and owning a large boarding house in Iowa. Not only did they and their children play the old upright, but their hotel and boarding house was continually filled with music of visitors from faraway places. GGpa Thomas Philby was a Professional Tuner as well businessman/mine owner in Brazil, Iowa.
Sylvania/Sally Marie loved to sing and starred in a few high school plays, a natural social butterfly! She loved poetry and was apt to recite to you a poem or stanza from memory. One could say socializing was the only 'sport' that interested her, and she excelled at it, easily flashing her perfect, beautiful, broad smile to strangers or chatting them up with pleasantries interspersed with mid-western humor or sayings. Sadly, the 'butterfly' part of her could not come to terms with her choice of a quiet, scientist-type, sport enthusiast husband, albeit extremely handsome, trim, accomplished, disciplined and gentle Christian man.
She came to faith in Christ when involved with Centerville Methodist youth choir, remaining a committed Christian and lifelong community helper. She was fascinated with all of creation, having deep love for her children, for all children really. She clipped articles and pictures for her mother/child scrapbook, including many artistic renditions of the madonna and famous mothers. Indeed, her first job as a preteen was as the Mothers' Helper at the country club. She excelled at caring for babies and small children, describing the diaper laundering (by the pails full) as the unpleasant but necessary job responsibility. After a season of living/working as a Data Processor in Savannah, Georgia, she then worked as a Playground Director in San Francisco, Calif. for which she received awards from the City for her work with children. Before committing to mothering as a full time occupation (she mothered 6), she worked in the manufacturing dept. in Denver, Colorado at her newlywed husband's college.
She was an avid naturalist, a bit of a textile artist with her sewing machine, a hobbyist in scrap booking, calligraphy and various arts/crafts. In later life, Sally enjoyed evening bike rides and tap dancing with local performance groups.
Having fully lived 94 years, 7 months and 2 days, and carried by sons Mark and David; grands Ryan S. and Ryan W.; friends T.G.,Thomas and Christian, Sally was laid to finally rest in West Palm with her husband Bob, sisters Dona and Bonnie, and parents Albert and Emma.
Visitation was on April 22nd at Royal Palm Memorial Gardens/Cemetery at 2pm, and the funeral service was at 3 PM with Rev. Tim Smiley officiating and a songstress sang Ava Maria, and Golden Bells. Interment followed where participants symbolically let flutter her many-colored bird feather collection atop her casket as it was lowered into the earth.
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
