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Ruth Arlene Hicks
03/08/1922 — 11/26/2012
From Mabton, WA, USA | Born in Toppenish, WA
Ruth Arlene Hicks
Mrs. Ruth Arlene Hicks, age 90, passed away Monday morning, 11/26/2012 at Kadlec Hospital in Richland, WA. Her death comes as a result of complications resulting from a severe fall at her home in Mabton in late October of this year.
Born in Toppenish of pioneer Satus-area stock, her grandfather, George Plank wife Clara, was managing partner of the 2, 000 acre Shearer Ranch, located near the past location of the Satus Store which they started as a company supply depot along the railroad. Ruth was born 3/8/22 to Roy and Lulu Plank Plank Road off highway 22 and grew up riding her ponies around their cattle and hay ranch and the sagebrush hills near Mule Dry Creek and Satus Creek. She rode her horse to the Shearer school near Satus, went to high school in Granger, and attended college in Ellensburg for a teaching degree.
After a WWII "Rosie the Riveter" experience at Boeing Seattle helping build B-29 bombers, she got a job teaching in Vancouver, WA, where she met and later married a B-17 gunner on leave, ex-prisoner of war in Germany, Charles N. Williams. They chose to return to the Satus area, where, in conjunction with her father's other operations they began a dairy. Children, namely Linda Kay, Kirk Charles, Laurel Ann, Keith Roy, and Kathy Sue followed over the next sixteen years. In time Charles and Ruth bought their own dairy and bee-keeping farm on the banks of the Yakima River near Mabton, WA.
Ruth and Charles divorced in 1964 and Ruth put her teaching degree back to work as a fifth-grade teacher in Mabton, teaching there a total of 19 years. In 1977, she married retired Mabton Superintendent of schools, Willis E. Hicks. They enjoyed travel and fun until his illness and death in 1991. Ruth remained active, healthy and independent until her death; enjoying her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren—and her roses.
Ruth is preceded in death by her husband, Willis Hicks, daughter Linda Kay Wolf, her father and mother, Roy and Lulu Plank, and her younger brother, Lyle Plank. She is survived by her children as listed above, her grandchildren Karl, Kraig, Conor, Alexa, Shauna, Brent, Bryan, Shawn, Steven and Jeremy, and great-grandchildren Ethan, Katie, Matthew, Jenna and Orion. We all mourn her passing but know that her kind and gentle soul will ease her easily past St. Peter, through the pearly gates and settle her smoothly into heaven. She is now among our guardian angels and is loved by all that knew her.
Ruth requested cremation and no public memorial service. Her remains will be interred at Terrace Heights Memorial Gardens. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in her name to the Yakima Valley Museum or the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, both of which were especially important to her.
Our condolences to the family. I first met Ruth when she taught in Granger during the late 1940’s. Since we lived on Plank Road, she often gave me a ride home from school.
Ken met her in the early 1970’s when he was the Hi School shop teacher at Mabton.
We always enjoyed getting to visit with her each spring at the Granger Alumni Banquet. Her gentle spirit and sweet smile will always come to mind at the mention of her name. Ken & Marie Smith
I will miss Ruth at the Mabton singing and visiting afterwards. Our grandmothers were cousins. I first met Ruth at the Plank home. She was young pretty kind and waiting for her husband to come home from the war. We shared many visits over the years and working on the family book.
We are sending our condolences to the family – Ruth is a 1st cousin. I’ll always remember my first visit to the Plank farm w/my parents, Charles and Ella Blackburn and sisters, Karen and Peggy in 1953. We met Ruth and her family. Her parents were very special to us – even though we lived in Iowa and didn’t see them often. I talked to Ruth last year on her 90th BD and she told me all about her family. Elaine Blackburnand Bob Glasgow in Florida
Our condolences to the family. I first met Ruth when she taught in Granger during the late 1940’s. Since we lived on Plank Road, she often gave me a ride home from school.
Ken met her in the early 1970’s when he was the Hi School shop teacher at Mabton.
We always enjoyed getting to visit with her each spring at the Granger Alumni Banquet. Her gentle spirit and sweet smile will always come to mind at the mention of her name. Ken & Marie Smith
I will miss Ruth at the Mabton singing and visiting afterwards. Our grandmothers were cousins. I first met Ruth at the Plank home. She was young pretty kind and waiting for her husband to come home from the war. We shared many visits over the years and working on the family book.
We are sending our condolences to the family – Ruth is a 1st cousin. I’ll always remember my first visit to the Plank farm w/my parents, Charles and Ella Blackburn and sisters, Karen and Peggy in 1953. We met Ruth and her family. Her parents were very special to us – even though we lived in Iowa and didn’t see them often. I talked to Ruth last year on her 90th BD and she told me all about her family. Elaine Blackburnand Bob Glasgow in Florida
Hello,
My name is Charlie Plesha. I was Ruth’s principal at Artz-Fox Elementary School in Mabton beginning in August 1980 until her retirement. I was saddened to read her obituary. She was truly a very fine lady and an outstanding educator. When I began evaluating Mrs. Hicks in the Fall of 1980, it was my first full year as a principal. I believe I shared with Mrs. Hicks at that time that she should be evaluating me. She was truly one of the best teachers I ever observed in my thirty years in administration. Mrs. Hicks did everything in the classroom just the way you would like it done. Many students in Mabton School District were very fortunate to have had her as their teacher. I was also saddened when she informed me of her retirement plans. I am very sorry for her family’s loss.
my thoughts and prayers are with your family. I was saddened to read of Ruth’s death. I am sorry that I and the physician’s in Richland were unable to fix Ruth. It was my privilege to meet her and see what a special person she was. I am sure your family has a multitude of positive memories with which to remember her. You are a special family as a result of Ruth. Thank you, david swofford
I am so sorry to hear of Ruth’s passing. She was my dad’s oldest cousin. I have known for 3 yrs as she gave the information about her family when I wrote the family book. Sometimes I just picked up the phone and called her -I really enjoyed her. She was such a kind person and loved by her many cousins from the midwest. She will be missed.
Dear Williams Family,
Ruth was such a sweet, caring intelligent person who left not only a tremendous legacy of her values and principles to you but to hundreds of children in Mabton. Those of us who were her friends are saddened at her loss, but we are happy with the smiles she left on our hearts.
My most sincere sympathy and love to all of you.
She taught me the latter part of the part of the forth grade at Liberty School and all of the fifth grade in Granger. She was patient, kind and loved by all her students. Gods blessings on her family. John Carpenter
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Ruth Arlene Hicks