Submitted by: Dan Rich

 

Ruth Helen Heeter

Dec. 2, 1907 - July 1, 1999

 

South Bend Tribune 7/2/1999

Ruth Helen (Steele) Heeter, 91, of Tanglewood Lane, Mishawaka, Ind., passed away at 1:25 a.m. on Thursday, July 1, at Fountainview Place, Mishawaka. Mrs. Heeter was born on Dec. 2, 1907, in Plymouth, Ind., to the late Jesse Marion and Edna Irene Steele. She was preceded in death by her brother, Luther Steele; and by her sisters, Melba Ebert and Dorothy Shinn.

 

She was married on July 3, 1930, in Plymouth, to Fred DeVon Heeter, who also preceded her in death on May 27, 1958. She is survived by a daughter, Jacqueline (Gerald) Xaver, and a son, Fred (Barbara) Heeter, all of South Bend, Ind.; nine grandchildren, Kathleen (Charles) McParland of Fairport, N.Y., Ruth Anne (Jim) Martin of Wildwood, Mo., Richard Xaver of Bloomington, Ind., Nancy Peterson of Brighton, Mich., Steven (Pamela) Xaver of Toledo, Ohio, Sharon (Scott) Guess of Columbia, S.C., Carol (Terry) Wagner of South Bend, March (Cathy) Heeter of Charlotte, N.C., and Sonja Heeter of Louisville, Ky.; 20 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild; a nephew, Robert (Mary Alice) Ellis of South Bend; two nieces, Bly (Kenneth) Cannott of Mishawaka and Martha (Don) Hardacre of California and Idaho; and by several great-nieces and nephews. Mrs. Heeter retired from Blue Cross-Blue Shield where she was district secretary for many years. She was also active in the Women of the Moose for several years.

 

The McGann Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements, which will consist of visitation with the family and a celebration of Mrs. Heeter's life from 9 a.m. on Saturday, July 3, in Little Flower Catholic Church, 54191 North Ironwood, South Bend, followed by a funeral Mass, also in the church, at 10 a.m. on Saturday. Burial will be in Oakhill Cemetery, Plymouth, Ind. Memorial donations for Mrs. Heeter may be made to the Food Pantry for the Needy at Little Flower Catholic Church.