Ruth Marie Vance Fields

Ruth Marie Vance Fields, 92, joined her husband Albert in heaven on August 17, 2018 succumbing to cancer. Preceded in death by her parents Elmer and Mary Gibson Vance; brothers Heber [Louise] Vance, Chaney [Jane] Vance, Coburn [Wilma] Vance, Joseph [Talitha] Vance and sisters Amy [John] Tims and Mary [Clarence] Narcross; Sister-in-Law Mary Evelyn [Bud] Smithson and many other loved ones.

Survived by son Jerrold Albert Fields who farms the Family Farm with her honorary grandson Mike [Kelly] George. Daughter, Shirley [Tim] McCoy and granddaughter Amy [Brent] Glover. After Ruth was diagnosed with Lung Cancer in 2015, her goal was to see Amy get married in 2016. Mission accomplished and so much more.

Ruth was born November 15, 1925 in Hillsboro, Ohio the last of 7 children. She grew up on the Family Farm outside of Hillsboro. Graduated from Hillsboro High School in 1943. She worked at Highland County Farm Bureau, then moved to Columbus and worked downtown at Cussins & Fearn Co., Veterans Administration, then the U.S. Forest Service and lived with three girlfriends in an apartment near OSU Campus.

She married Albert on March 12, 1950 in Hillsboro, Ohio. They lived for a short time in Columbus before returning to Hillsboro where Albert farmed with his father while Ruth worked for J.F. Wilson, Jr. of the Gross-Fiebel Company. They came to the Derby area in 1952 to farm with Chaney Vance. They joined Farm Council to get to know people in the community, which brought them many lasting friendships. Eventually they bought their own equipment and over the years farmed the Winfough, McKinley and Creamer Farms, ultimately to own their own land in 1974.

In 1953 Ruth started worked for Winfough-Balo Implement Co. in Mt. Sterling, Ohio until it closed. Then in 1958, she went to Marine Mart Boat and Trailer Sales as the Office Manager for the next 17 years for James and Marveen [McKinley] Fortney. The working relationship became one of close friends that led to the following generations with Tom and Kay Vylee [Fortney] Greaves and their family. In, 1997, she retired at age 72 after working in the business offices as supervisor at Orient State Institute followed by Orient Correctional Reception Center.

Ruth loved living in the country and helping Albert on the farm. In 1996 they moved from the McKinley Farm and built a new home on their own land. They were always hand in hand gardening, traveling, and visiting family over their 63 years of marriage. One of her passions was the hunt of finding a “good deal” to add to her many collections. She sold Longaberger Baskets and enjoyed using them.

Ruth was a member of the Derby United Methodist Church and enjoyed her last Sunday at their Community Service at Derby Park getting to see special friends Mary Vincent and Ruth Wolery among others. She loved her nieces and nephews, especially enjoyed the “Cousin Lunches”. In her last week of life, she was honored by an “Ask Aunt Ruth” luncheon hosted by niece Marian Vance of Delaware, attended by several of her nieces.

She was a charter member of the Derby Garden Club and served as President in 1960. In 2017 she was named by the Ohio Association of Garden Clubs as Region 9 Outstanding Garden Club Member and acknowledged by the Ohio House of Representatives for her accomplishment. Ruth enjoyed planting and caring for flowers and was a frequent winner with specimens at local flower shows. Tuesday, she enjoyed receiving flowers from the Derby Jr. Garden Club and freshly baked zucchini muffins made from their gardens.

Ruth will be greatly missed by family and friends. Visitation will be held from 4-7 pm Monday, August 20 at the Porter-Tidd Funeral Home, 331 W. Main St., Mt. Sterling. The funeral service will be held at the Derby United Methodist Church at 11am on Tuesday, August 21, 2018. Rev. Laura Clark officiating with the burial following in Pleasant Cemetery in Era, Ohio. Family will receive friends one hour prior to service.

Online condolences to www.tiddfuneralservice.com.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made by designating “In Memory of Ruth Fields” to either the Derby United Methodist Church, 11782 London Road, Orient, Ohio, 43146 or for the “Derby Jr. Garden Club” through the Westfall Education Foundation, P.O. Box 83, Williamsport, Ohio, 43164.