Ruth Irene Auten

Ruth Irene Auten, age 87 of Brooksville, Florida passed away July 30, 2012 at Woodlawn Meadows in Hastings, where she has resided since June 2011.

She was born in Dearborn, Michigan on November 12, 1924, the daughter of Clayton and Ethel (Hilts) Wildfong. Ruth attended Dearborn High School, in Dearborn, Michigan, graduating in 1942.

Ruth married Richard Noble in 1944 and together, they had four children. Her first marriage ended in divorce and in 1963 she married Lawrence Auten.

Ruth worked as a bookkeeper in Detroit at an Insurance Agency. In the 1940's she worked for the Civil Service. During the war time era, Ruth was featured on the cover of Army Times. The story in the Army Times was written to help raise funds for the USO for War Bonds. In the 50's and 60's she was a homemaker. Ruth worked as a bookkeeper for the family business, Auten's Disposal. She retired at age 55 and moved to Florida, where she lived until 2009.

Ruth enjoyed gardening, swimming, sewing, oil painting, and spending time with her children and grandchildren. She was a member of the Dixie Baptist Church in Clarkston, Michigan.

She was preceded in death by her parents; brother, Howard Wildfong of California; sister, Marguerite Wilder; husbands: Richard Noble and Lawrence Auten and son, Gary Lyle Noble.

Ruth is survived by her daughters: Nancy (Keith ) Mead of Delton and Susan (Donald) Freeman of Hastings; Laura (Joseph) McElhinny of Montana; ten grandchildren: Jeffrey Mead, Deborah Mead, Kristi (Cory) Holm, Kelley Churchill, Jade (Becky) Freeman, Sierra Freeman, Orin Werth, Katie (James) Johnson, Rusty (Christina) Noble and Rita Noble; and twenty-one great grandchildren: Caleb, Josh, Jordan, Dylan, Corey, Victoria, Lauren, Emma, Ivan, Tatum, Mila, Noble, Sophie, Riley, Landon, Casey, Jaizah, Rorak, Skylar, Rogelio and Farrah; brother, Harry Wildfong of California and cousin, Donna Marlowe of Holly, Michigan.

Memorial contributions may be made to Mott Children's Hospital at the University of Michigan; Spectrum Hospice or the Dementia Unit at Woodlawn Meadows in Hastings.