Zerkel, Ruth H.

1930 - 2020  (90 years)

• Name	Zerkel, Ruth H.
  Birth	2 Jun 1930	Clay County, Illinois   [1]
  Gender	Female
  Census		1940 Census, Pixley Township, Clay County, Illinois, page 02b 1940 United States Federal Census, Pixley Township, Clay County, Illinois, District 13-18, image 04, page 02b
  Reference Number	ZERK.R002
  _FGRAVE	217726631
  Death	25 Oct 2020	Richland Nursing and Rehab, Olney, Richland County, Illinois
  	Cause: Complications of Covid-19
  Burial	North Freedom Cemetery, Noble, Richland County, Illinois
  Person ID	I40713	Carl Wayne Gray Research | Weidner - Ziegler Johann Adam Weidner and Magdalene Ziegler Descendants
  Last Modified	5 Jan 2022

  
  

  Father	Zerkel, Clarna G.,   b. 5 Oct 1896, Clay County, Illinois d. 17 Aug 1980, Flora, Clay County, Illinois (Age 83 years)
  Mother	Gross, Agnes M.,   b. 1902, Indiana d. 1975 (Age 73 years)
  Marriage	Y  [1]
  Family ID	F15044	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Clinton, James Taylor,   b. 19 Jul 1920, Jefferson County, Illinois d. 10 May 2012, Richland County Memorial Hospital, Olney, Richland County, Illinois (Age 91 years)
  Marriage	30 Mar 1951  [2, 3]
  Age at Marriage	She : 20 years and 9 months - He : 30 years and 8 months.
  Children	1. Clinton, Janice > 2. Clinton, Brenda   3. Clinton, Richard L.,   b. 27 Jul 1953, Olney, Richland County, Illinois d. 1 Jul 2021, Helia Healthcare, Olney, Richland County, Illinois (Age 67 years) + 4. Clinton, Paul David 'PD',   b. 3 Feb 1959, Olney, Richland County, Illinois d. 2 Jan 2022, Wheeler, Jasper County, Illinois (Age 62 years)
  Family ID	F18440	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	21 Oct 2026

  
  

• Event Map

  Birth - 2 Jun 1930 - Clay County, Illinois Death - Cause: Complications of Covid-19 - 25 Oct 2020 - Richland Nursing and Rehab, Olney, Richland County, Illinois Burial - - North Freedom Cemetery, Noble, Richland County, Illinois  = Link to Google Earth

  
  

• Notes

  Ruth H. Clinton, 90, of Olney passed away Sunday evening, October 25, 2020 from complications of Covid-19 at Richland Nursing & Rehab in Olney. Ruth Helen (Zerkel) Clinton was born on June 2, 1930 in Clay County to Clarna G. and Agnes (Gross) Zerkel. She attended Pleasant Dale country school in Pixley Township, Clay County. She also attended Noble High School. After graduation in 1948, she worked at Clay County Farm Bureau in Louisville, IL until her marriage to James T. Clinton on March 30, 1951. She lived in Noble, IL until July 1982 when she and James moved to Olney. Ruth was a very talented seamstress and passed on her love of sewing to both of her daughters. She worked at Musgrove Apparel doing alterations for 7 years and did clothing alterations at home for 20 years. She also worked at Kex Products for 18 years. She was a long-time member of Freedom Baptist Church north of Noble, where she served as pianist for several years. Her children have many fond memories of sitting with her at the piano, singing church hymns and children’s songs. Ruth was a wonderful cook and enjoyed making big meals for her family. Her children and many others especially loved her homemade pies. Her husband James (Jim) Taylor Clinton preceded her in death on May 10, 2012. She is survived by son Richard (Karen) of Olney, daughter Janice of Olney, daughter Brenda (Steve) Francis of Olney, and son Paul D. (Sherry) of Wheeler, IL. Five grandchildren: Eric Francis, David (Dawn) Francis and Amy (Ben) Snowden, Abby (Dustin) Phillips, and Taylor Clinton. Two step-grandchildren: Tom (Angela) Courtney and Allen (Lena) Courtney Five great -grandchildren: Emmett and Auri Francis, Rhett and Beckett Phillips, and Murphy Snowden. Seven step-great-grandchildren: Hailey and Emalee Courtney, and Shyam, Brooklyn, and Madison Courtney. She is also survived by 2 nephews and 2 nieces. Besides her husband James, she was preceded in death by her parents, brother, Corporal Herbert Zerkel and brother, Melvin Zerkel. Memorials in Ruth’s honor can be made to Carmi Baptist Children’s Home, c/o Freedom Baptist Church. There will be a Drive Thru Visitation from 12-1 PM at Kistler-Patterson Funeral Home. A private family service will be held at 1:00 PM. Burial will be at the North Freedom Cemetery following the service. Family and friends are invited to attend the graveside service at North Freedom Cemetery. Anyone wishing to attend the burial service is requested to wear a mask and maintain social distancing, per the family request.

  
  

• Sources

  [S1489] Ancestry.com, 1940 United States Federal Census, Pixley Township, Clay County, Illinois, District 13-18, image 04, page 2b, (https://www.ancestry.com/interactive/2442/M-T0627-00769-00441?backurl=https%3a%2f%2fsearch.ancestry.com%2fsearch%2fdb.as) (Reliability: 2). [S15182] https://www.findagrave.com, Obituary, Clinton, James T., 91, (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/75162004/maurice_samuel_clifford), none. (Reliability: 2). [S15089] https://www.findagrave.com, Headstone, Clinton, James Taylor Clinton, (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/75162004/maurice_samuel_clifford), none. (Reliability: 2).