Ruth E. Hibbard

Ruth E. (Moran) Hibbard, 101, of Dowagiac, passed away Tuesday, August 15 , 2017 at Oak Crest Adult Foster Care in Niles. A Celebration of Life Service will be held Saturday, August 26, 2017 at 3:00 PM at Portage Free Methodist Church, 1715 W. Centre Ave. Portage, MI 49024.In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the Portage Free Methodist Church or to Oak Crest Adult Foster Care. Those wishing to sign Ruth’s guestbook on line may do so at www.clarkch.com. Ruth was born February 2, 1916 to Robert Frank Dean and Carrie (Berry) Moran. She was the second youngest of seven children. Ruth grew up in Kalamazoo and graduated from Western State Teacher’s College. Ruth met Wilson Hibbard at the Kalamazoo Free Methodist Church where his father was the pastor. They married on September 5, 1943. Ruth spent her career teaching. She began in a one room schoolhouse. Ruth taught elementary school but particularly loved teaching fourth graders. She retired from the Comstock Public Schools in 1985. Ruth lovingly supported her husband through a devastating diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease. Following Wison’s death, Ruth moved in with her daughter Sharon and son-in-law Bill. When Sharon passed away in 2015 she relocated to Niles, MI. Ruth is survived by her sons, LeRoy Hibbard of Clearwater, FL and Dale (Elizabeth) Hibbard of Bradenton, FL; son-in-law, William Chapel of Niles; grandchildren, Melissa (Jonathan) Phillips of Dowagiac, Mindy (Michael) Young of Independence, MO, Devan Hibbard of Casablanca, Morocco, Danielle Hibbard of Brooklyn, NY and Erik Hibbard of New York, NY; nieces, Betty Anne (Bill) Smith of Lansing, MI, Gail (Chick) Corea of Clearwater, FL and Marilyn Flegal of Lansing, MI; nephews, Ron (June) Flegal of Hawaii, Don (Janet) Flagel of AR and James (Sarah) Briggs of Tempe, AZ; along with numerous great-nieces and nephews. Ruth was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; daughter Sharon and her 6 siblings. Ruth’s family would like to thank Jan Oles of Oak Crest AFC for taking such good care of Ruth during her final days. While her family mourns her passing, we are comforted by the sure and certain hope of Ruth’s resurrection and life in the world to come. We do not mourn as those without hope, but celebrate the remarkable life that Ruth lead of love and service to others.