Ruth Kerr

 G. Ruth Kerr, 90, of Camp Point, IL, passed away at 11:40 p.m. Thursday, December 5, 2024, at her home.

 Born January 27, 1934, in Moline, IL, Ruth was the daughter of Maurice and Gladys Genung Benson and grew up on the family farm, one mile east of Cordova, IL. She was soon joined by her younger brother, Robert. She married Edwin Kerr on June 30, 1957, in Cordova Baptist Church. He survives.

 Ruth graduated from Cordova Grade School and High School in Cordova. Later, Cordova, Port Byron, and Hillsdale, united as the consolidated Riverdale schools of northern Rock Island County to acknowledge Cordova and Port Byron being on the Mississippi and Hillsdale being on the Rock River. She graduated from Western Illinois University in 1956 with a B.S. in teaching, accounting, typing, and at that time, shorthand.

 She was then employed for one year to teach these subjects at the Ohio, IL, High School in Bureau County in North Central, IL. After her marriage, she was employed as a secretary for Marsh and Truman Lumber Company in the Chicago loop and also as the teacher of Speed Writing School.

 Ruth and Edwin moved to Berwyn, IL, in 1958 where they welcomed twin daughters, Marilyn and Carolyn, on February 18, 1959, during his internship at MacNeal Memorial Hospital. Following his internship they returned to live in Cordova, while Edwin honored his two-year commitment to the U.S. Navy. Both grandparents, Edwin's sister-in-law, and brother, assisted Ruth in caring for the twins at her mobile home in Cordova while Edwin served 18 months in Taiwan.

 Following that period, Ruth, Marilyn, Carolyn, and Edwin spent the winter of 1961 in a cold lakeside summer cabin in Wauconda, IL, while his final six months of U.S. Navy duty was concluded at Great Lakes Naval Training Station.

 In June of 1962, the four moved to Camp Point to serve the community with a family medicine practice and were soon joined by their daughter, Dorothy, and son, Frederick. While the children were school-age, Ruth obtained a teaching position at Central High School where she remained for 23 years. She also obtained her M.S. in Business Education from SIU and taught many business classes through community colleges.

 Despite bouts of several serious health problems, Ruth persevered; a bout of Polio in 1960 despite having had all recommended vaccines, two cancers, and a long-standing course of treatment for cardiac dysrhythmias.

 Ruth had a life-long love of reading, which she instilled in her children by reading to them from the time they were very young. She enjoyed playing the piano and shared her love of music by taking her children to piano lessons, band contests, and ball games in which they performed with the school band. She also shuttled her children to 4-H meetings, swimming lessons, and science fairs, and helped them learn to sew, cook, and create projects. A talented seamstress, she made clothes for her family and later made beautiful handcrafted quilts for her children and grandchildren.

 Survivors in addition to her husband of 67 years are her children, Marilyn Kerr, Jacksonville, IL, Carolyn (Gary) Sherwin, Roodhouse, IL, Dorothy (David) Gouletas, Stonewall, LA, and Fred (India) Kerr, Aloha, OR; four grandchildren, Rebecca (Adam) Gerlach, Molly (Nathan) Free, Elizabeth Gouletas, and Zander Jensen Kerr; as well as two great-grandchildren, Wesley and Madelyn Gerlach.

 She was preceded in death by her grandparents, parents, and her brother. 

 Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, December 14, 2024, at the Camp Point United Methodist Church by Rev. Sheri Renner. Burial will follow at Evergreen Cemetery, Camp Point.

 Visitation will be held Saturday morning from 10:00 a.m. until the time of services at the church.

 Memorial contributions may be made to the Camp Point United Methodist Church or the Community For Christ Assistance Center.

 Online condolences may be left at www.hamiltonfuneralhomes.net.