Ruth E. Harkness, age 83 of Kent, IL, died Tuesday, September 18, 2012 at the Stockton Health Care & Rehabilitation Center. Ruth was born February 8, 1929, the daughter of Glen and Mildred (Everhart) Croffoot. She graduated from Pearl City High School where she was the Salutatorian of her class. She married Keith Harkness on June 30, 1947 at the Kent United Methodist Church; he died on November 30, 2006.
Ruth was a member of the Kent United Methodist Church where she was the pianist and taught Sunday School for fifty years. She was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star of Pearl City. Ruth retired from the Kent Bank and had also worked for the Kent Post Office. She enjoyed music, art, baking, reading, and sharing mystery novels with her daughter.
Ruth is survived by her daughter, Bette Harkness and her husband Mark Fiegle of Stockton, IL; sister, Carol (Stuart) Hershey of Pearl City, IL; and brother, Kenneth Croffoot of Lena, IL.
She is preceded in death by her parents and husband.
A visitation will be held Friday, September 21, 2012 from 3:00 to 6:00 PM at the Hermann Funeral Home in Stockton. The funeral service will be held Saturday, September 22, 2012 at 3:00 PM also at the funeral home, Rev. Brenda Morris presiding. Internment will take place at Ladies Union Cemetery in Stockton. A memorial fund has been established for the Kent United Methodist Church.