Ruth H. Miller May 28, 1921 - August 18 , 2012 Ruth Hannah (Olds) Miller, born 28 May 1921 passed away peacefully at home on Saturday night following a long illness. She leaves behind her three children: Nancy Paskin (Sam), Susan Collins (the late Gary Collins) and David Miller (Trish), and step-grandson, Bill McLeskey III. She is also survived by brothers-in-law, Earl Miller (Ruth) and Lawrence Miller (the late Jeanette) and sister-in-law, Beatrice (Miller) Kromis (Howard) and by numerous nieces and nephews and cousins by the dozens. Her husband, Carl E. Miller, predeceased her by 6 months. Ruth was the youngest child and only daughter of William "Bill" Olds and Ida (Krueger) Olds of Dearborn, Michigan. She was raised in Dearborn along with her late brother, Ralph, next door to St Paul American Lutheran Church. The church played a major role in her life where, over the years, she was a part-time secretary, sang in all the choirs, was a member of various circles and committees, was a regular worshiper for over 70 years and a regular quilter in the St Paul's Quilters Group. She often said that living next to the church was interesting because people would borrow things from her parents, if they needed tools or things at the church and her mother would send her back to the church to retrieve a kettle or pot, etc. when it was needed back at the house. Since her father was an early employee of the Ford Motor Company, Ruth was among Ford employees children who were given dance and etiquette lessons by Mrs. Henry Ford. At age 9, Ruth attended a dance at Lovett Hall following weeks of lessons and she danced with Henry Ford during this event. She was always proud of this. Ruth attended a year and a half of college at Western Normal College (now Western Michigan University) in Kalamazoo. She had hopes of becoming a teacher, but her plans were interrupted by WWII and then by marriage. She married Carl Miller in May 1945 when he returned from duty in the Pacific theater. They were married at St Paul American Lutheran Church and lived in Dearborn for the next 67 years. Ruth continued to work in various secretarial jobs, including for the superintendent of the Dearborn school system, as a medical transcriber for a pediatric ophthalmologist, a home typist, and a receptionist for a local answering service. Ruth had to be busy all the time. She walked, rode her bike around town, gardened, quilted, knitted, crocheted and sewed many, many wonderful things. She baked all the bread the family ate and several relatives asked for a loaf each Christmas. She volunteered at blood drives and at local psychiatric sites where she would wash and style resident's hair. She loved musicals and plays and took various family members to them as a treat. She also loved to travel and eventually the family visited most of the states in the US, except for Alaska, WA, and OR. She would read up ahead of time and be ready with numerous historical facts for each state or place visited. She traveled with her husband and the Model T and A clubs and participated in period costumes in parades with the cars. She also spent many summers in Canada and made many friends in the greater Desboro area of Ontario and later Robson Lake at the Miller cottage. She often quilted and sewed while her husband fished on the lake. Ruth had a full and wonderful life. These past eight years have been a slow decline, but her family has been involved on a daily basis, oversight by Carl initially, physical care by both Susan and David for the entire time that she was bed-ridden, nightly calls of support and necessary adaptive aids from Nancy and the spouses (Gary, Trish and Sam) provided support and TLC as well. Ruth's wish was to always remain at home and her wish was fulfilled. She also received attentive care and support from Grace Hospice who provided services to her in numerous ways and to the family. A very special thank-you goes to Savannah Lewis-Whatley, who has been Ruth's major home health caregiver for over two years and her agency, Home Helpers, for linking the family to such a wonderful person. She gave Ruth her undivided attention and loving care. We are glad that Ruth is now at peace. Direct burial will be at the Cadillac Memorial Cemetery West, Westland, MI. Arrangements and the Online Guestbook by Howe-Peterson Funeral Home, Dearborn, MI. www.howepeterson.com Memorial donations should be sent to St Paul American Lutheran Church, 21915 Beech St, Dearborn, MI 48124