Hill Lane, Ruth

Ruth Hill Lane, formerly of Trumansburg, NY, died on Monday, December 6, 2004 at the Reconstruction Home in Ithaca at the age of 90. Born on March 10, 1914 in New Haven, Connecticut, Ruth was the daughter of Dr. Arthur J. and Helen Rice Hill. Following graduation from Mrs. Day's School in Connecticut, she attended and graduated from Bradford Junior College in Haverhill, Massachusetts. Upon graduation from Bradford, Ruth was accepted by Cornell University and graduated in 1936 with a degree in Early Childhood Education. She was a member of Delta Delta Delta and Omicron Nu at Cornell.

Following graduation Ruth returned to her hometown in Connecticut where she founded and operated a nursery school for one year. On October 22, 1937, Ruth married Burel Lane. The couple made Trumansburg their home, later moving into the family home at 74 Cayuga Street. While living in Trumansburg she and Burel ran a very successful honeybee operation. (Burel also owned and operated the former B&L Motors Ford Dealership for a number of years.)

Ruth taught first grade from 1959 until 1965 for the Trumansburg Central School. In 1965 Burel accepted a job with New York State in Albany so they moved to Voorheesville, NY. Ruth taught first and second grade in the Guilderland School District until her retirement in 1974. They returned to Trumansburg in 1979.

Ruth treasured her 46 years of marriage to Burel. Together they enjoyed canoeing, sailing, swimming, downhill skiing, gardening and traveling. With their children and grandchildren they created precious memories at their cottage on Cayuga Lake.

She was an active member of the First Baptist Church prior to her move to Voorheesville, and was an active member of the Presbyterian Church upon her return to Trumansburg. Ruth was a member of the Book Club, Ulysses Philomathic Library and Historical Society. She enjoyed playing the piano, knitting and sewing as well as attending dinner theaters and musical performances. She was an active alumnus of Tri-Delta.

Ruth was preceded in death by her husband, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law and parents. She is survived her brother, Dr. Arthur J. Hill, Jr.; her sister, Dorothy (Frederick) Crow; three children, Elizabeth (Terrence) Rixford, Margaret (Richard) Burlew, and Kathryn (David) McDougal; twelve grandchildren; twenty-two great-grandchildren; nieces, nephews and many friends.

The family will be present to receive their friends at the Ness-Sibley Funeral Home, 23 South St., Trumansburg on Friday, December 10, 2004 from 6-8 pm.

Services will be held at the First Presbyterian Church of Ulysses in Trumansburg on Saturday, December 11, 2004 at 10:00 am with the Rev. Jeffrey S. Kellam officiating. Prayers of Committal will follow at Grove Cemetery.

Contributions in Ruth's memory may be directed to the First Presbyterian Church of Ulysses, P.O. Box 597, Trumansburg, NY 14886, the Ulysses Philomathic Library, P.O. Box 705, Trumansburg, NY 14886 or the Alzheimer's Assn. of CNY, 441 W. Kirkpatrick St., Syracuse, NY 13204.

For additional information, please contact the funeral home at 1-888-534-5446.

Page Submitted By: Joseph L. Sibley, Director