Ruth Jane Hooton

Ruth Jane Hooton (Short/Marshall) of Pensacola, formerly of Wilmington,Delaware passed away peacefully in her home on November 21, 2015. With loving family by her side, Ruth succumbed to a courageous 8 year battle to cancer. She was an inspiration to both patients and staff at Sacred Heart Oncology, including her physician, Harish Malhotra.

Ruth was born on October 14, 1935 in Hebron, MD to A. Norman Short and Elizabeth Gray. At age 4, Ruth lost her own mother to cancer; she and her 3 sisters were raised by their father. Norman taught his daughters that there was nothing they could not do. They all exhibited the talents he taught them through gardening, woodworking, furniture refinishing, and even building a home from the ground up.

Ruth attended a two room schoolhouse in Bethel, DE. She graduated from William Penn High School in New Castle, DE. She worked in a research lab after graduation & later was a restaurant manager in downtown Wilmington. In 1973, Ruth married Edward Hooton Jr, and they made their home in Connecticut. A mother, a wife, and an active member of the community, Ruth spent her spare time gardening, entertaining, boating, sewing, embroidering, and caring for her many poodles. While in Connecticut, Ruth enjoyed skeet shooting with Ed and eventually learned to fly a plane as his co-pilot after taking the steps to earn a license. In 1991, Ruth and Ed retired to Pensacola where they engaged in a busy lifestyle. The two of them were certified lifetime members of the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary, where they manned the lighthouse & participated as a rescue unit for the Coastguard during water sport events. Ruth also was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution Fort Bowyer Chapter in Foley, AL.

Ruth’s civic engagement was paramount through out her adult life. Her genuine interest in making a positive social and environmental impact was felt by family, friends, and members of her community. Ruth prioritized the way she spent her time, ensuring that she found unique and effective ways of giving back to underprivileged populations. Ruth was humble in her words and her actions. In the spirit of service, she did not seek recognition in her giving, it was simply a way of life. As an example, recycling was not always accessible, encouraged, or even understood in the 70s, none of which stopped Ruth from adapting sustainable practices even before her time. A culminating experience for Ruth was her involvement with the Daughters of the Nile, an international organization dedicated to supporting Shriners Hospitals for Children®. Ruth cherished the relationships she formed with other members, and found the upmost value in the contribution they were able to make together for children with neuromusculoskeletal conditions, burn injuries, and other special healthcare needs. Every night Ruth could be found at her sewing machine, creating hospital gowns, or in her favorite chair crocheting blankets for the Shriners Hospital for Children®.

Ruth was an inspiration to all who knew her & she was admired for her courage and strength during her battle with cancer. Her greatest source of pride was her family, who deeply mourn her passing. The family would like to acknowledge and thank Ruth’s support network of friends and neighbors, including her fellow Daughters of the Nile members, as well as her dedicated medical team, in Pensacola, Florida. And, a very special thank you to Clay, Angela, & Debbie for whom we are forever indebted to for their selfless & loving care which enabled Mom to remain in her home.

Loved ones who preceded her in death are her beloved husband, Ed Hooton; her parents; son, Michael & daughter, Elizabeth Marshall; loving sister, Norma Longhauser; daughter Barbara Lombard; son-in-law, Pete Walsh; & granddaughter, Stephanie Mead.

Ruth is survived by daughter Carol (Dr. Robert) Mead; sisters Bess Shockley and Martha (Don) Lebo; son Dr. Jeff Hooton (Belinda); and daughters Lorraine Hooton Walsh and Irene Talley. Grandchildren include: Ashlee (Nate) Mead; Philip (Becca) Mead; Trisha (Michael) Warren; Kim & Jessica Walsh; Babbette Adcock; Sage (Jim) Braddock; Maurie Hooton; Ainslea (Kyle) Snellenberger; Kimmy (Danny) Stargatt; Jim (Renee) Talley; Lisa Lombard; Jeff Lombard; Gary (Mary) Lombard. Great-grandchildren: Monroe (MJ) Mead & Reed Adcock; & numerous nieces & nephews.

A graveside service will be held at 11 am on Saturday morning, December 5, 2015 at Gracelawn Memorial Park, 2220 N. DuPont Parkway, New Castle, DE with interment to follow.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Shriners Hospitals for Children, 12502 North Pine Dr, Tampa, FL, or the Hadji Temple (Shriners transportation fund), 800 W Nine Mile Rd, Pensacola, FL 32534 or a cancer fund of choice.