Ruth Ann Bates, 95, died from old age on March 11, 2015 at Manor Court at Liberty Village in Freeport, Illinois.
Ruth Ann was born on December 23rd, 1919, in Freeport, the son of Joseph O. and Florence (Shoemaker) Hutchison. She was a 1938 Dakota High School graduate. Following graduation, she attended Rockford College and graduated in 1942 and earned her master's degree from Northern Illinois University. She lived in the Freeport area all her life.
On July, 15, 1969, she married Harry Roy Bates in Freeport. Harry died on December 4th, 2003. Ruth Ann taught at Dakota High School for many years and was also librarian for the school system. She also did secretarial work in the morning and taught sixth grade in the afternoon for one year at Henny Grade School in Freeport, Illinois. She enjoyed golfing with her husband, crocheting, playing Bingo, and reading. She and her husband spent several months for many winters in Sarasota, Florida where they had good friends and fun times. Ruth Ann was a loving influence to her family. She was a long-time member of United Presbyterian Church in Freeport. She had a wonderful sense of humor all her life. Survivors include her daughter, Jody (Jim) Meizelis; two grandsons; Tad (Veronica) Meizelis of Sycamore and Tony Meizelis of Normal; one great grandson, Brent; one nephew, James (Connie) Hutchison of Rock City; two nieces, Janet Scriven (Don Mantor) of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and Mary Jane Hutchison (Edgar Abry) of Marion, Iowa; and sister-in-law, Ida Hutchison. She was preceded in death by her husband, her brother, and her parents. Cremation rites were accorded. Private inurnment of her cremated remains will be at the Cedarville Cemetery in Cedarville. There will be no visitation. A memorial fund is being established for the Muscular Dystrophy Muscular Dystrophy Association, mda.org, in lieu of flowers. Address: Muscular Dystrophy Association - USA, National Office, 222 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 1500, Chicago, Illinois 60606, (800) 572-1717.