Mrs. Ruth M. (Underwood) Hildebrand, 96, of Battle Creek, passed away Friday, June 20, 2012 at home of natural causes. She was born April 16, 1916 in Newberry, MI. The youngest of five children born to Edward and Margaret (Kee) Underwood. Ruth graduated from Western Michigan University with a Bachelor’s degree in education and a Master’s degree in English. She was employed with the Kellogg Foundation in Battle Creek before teaching at both High School and Collegiate levels. In November 8, 1941 Ruth married Edward H. Hildebrand in Battle Creek. They raised four daughters on their 104-acre tree farm that included a private swimming and fishing pond where the family spent many enjoyable gatherings. Swimming was a favorite past time of Ruth’s. Her swimming career included world records earned at the Senior Olympics and record breaking turns at the Leroy Sparks Goguac Lake swim in Battle Creek, which she swam several times. Her last turn was at the age of 91. Ruth claimed she had two addictions, reading and writing. Along with swimming and writing, Ruth enjoyed spending time on the farm. Over the years, she and Ed planted over 300,000 trees, raised ponies, horses, hunting dogs, turkeys and other animals. They maintained several crops of fruits and vegetables, including an apple orchard from which they made their own apple cider each year. Above all Ruth loved spending with her family. She worshipped God and was a member of Christ United Methodist Church.

Left to cherish her memory are her daughters, Ann Ruthsdottir of Brunswick, ME, Mary (Tom Vieyra) McGann of Battle Creek, Martha (Paul) Baker of Lakeland, FL, Jane (Jim Ingersoll) Edwards-Ingersoll of Augusta; grandchildren, Dawn (Bill Blue) Parker, Stacey (Bob) Lowe, Peggy (Jamie) Girar, Chad Baker, Jennifer (Chris) Sleeper and 15 great-grandchildren.

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