On Wednesday, July 15, 2009, Ruth June Greene, while still relatively healthy and active in Galien, died having achieved the remarkable age of 101.
Funeral services will be held at 11:30 a.m. Monday, July 20, at Morris Chapel United Methodist Church in Niles with the Rev. Christopher Kruchkow of the church officiating.
Committal services will follow at Morris Chapel Cemetery in Niles.
The family will receive relatives and friends one hour prior to services at the church.
She was born at home on the family farm on Pucker Street, Niles, on June 5, 1908, to the late William H. and Julia A. (White) Walker.
Her father’s family was a Niles area pioneer family since 1828 and her mother’s family were pioneers of Kenosha, Wis. and Charles City, Iowa. Her mother was a lineal descendant of Resolved While who came to Plymouth, Mass. with his parents in 1620 on the Mayflower.
Ruth attended the one room Pucker Street School and in 1927, she graduated from Niles High School.
About that time, the Walker family’s pioneering spirit lead them to try wintering in Florida, traveling in a Ford Model T onto which Mr. Walker had built a traveling home. Those annual trips were challenging, but helped shape Ruth’s life, as she continued to enjoy winter trips and eventually some long-term retirement in Florida.
After high school graduation, Ruth worked to save for college, and then attended Saint Joseph Nursing School in South Bend, Ind., earning the Registered Nurse diploma in 1932.
She was employed for several years as a special duty nurse in Berrien County and later served as an industrial nurse, first for American Brakeblok, and then for Blue Cross/Blue Shield, retiring in 1973. During that time she was a member of the Michigan Industrial Nurses Association.
She was also a life-long member of the Morris Chapel United Methodist Church, just a short distance from the Walker home.
In 1931, Ruth married Ray von Steinen, who died in 1951.
During retirement in Florida, Ruth renewed an old friendship with Martin B. Greene, to whom she became married. He died in 1982.
She was also preceded in death by her sisters, Florence H. Walker in 1996 and W. Maxine Walker in 2007 and their brother, Merle C. Walker in 1999.
Surviving family includes her children, Raymond (Dorothy) von Steinen of South Lyon and Ina Sue (Charles) Narin of Hamtramck; five grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; a sister, Edna M. Vite of Buchanan and many nieces and nephews of several generations.
Memorial contributions may be made to Morris Chapel United Methodist Church in Niles.
Arrangements were by Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles.