Ethel Ruth Lees

Ethel Ruth Warner Lees, 84, of Hebron, Ohio, passed into eternity on Saturday, May 13, 2017. She was born June 17, 1932, to the late Thurman Gilmore (T.G.) and Josephine Olney Woodward Warner, in Woodstock, Ohio. Ruth was the sixth of 14 children. She was 1950 graduate of Homer High School and a life-long housewife. On July 2, 1950, she married the late Bennett O. Lees to whom she was married for over 66 years. To their union was born six children: Kenneth (Diane); the late Joe (Lori); Charles (Millie); the late Ben Dean; Linda (Mark) Billenstein; and Ray (Matt). She had twenty grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. Her six surviving siblings and their spouses include: Nancy (Richard) Montgomery, John (Tessa) Warner, Richard (Karen) Warner, Donald Warner, Thomas (Tina) Warner, and Gene Warner. Other surviving family members include Kathy Lees Blaine, Lee Ann Warner, John (Irene) Droke, and Rozella (Kenneth) Lees. Additionally, she had many nephews and nieces. Special recognition to niece Sondra Wellman who visited faithfully. In addition to her husband, parents, and two sons, she was preceded in death by three sisters: Joy May Campbell, Lenabelle Wellman, and Jane Droke; four brothers: Joseph (Pat) Warner, Jim Warner, Hildred Eugene Warner, and William (Bill) Warner. She was an active member of the Heath Church of Christ, where she leads the benevolence committee and served as VBS secretary for many years. Together, Ben and Ruth managed the BenRuth Holstein Farm in Hebron until November 1984. Visitation will be held at the Worthington United Methodist Church, 600 High St. Worthington, OH on Saturday, May 20, 2017, from 10:00 a.m. to noon. The funeral service will immediately follow with Ray Linn and David Mason, ministers, officiating. Burial will be at 2:30 p.m. the same day in Wilson Cemetery, Newark, Ohio. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Heath Church of Christ or the Ohio Living Hospice at ohioliving.org/foundation/donate. The family would like to thank the caring staffs of Ohio Living Hospice and Laurels of Norworth. Condolence can be left to the family at www.rutherfordfuneralhome.com

Ethel Ruth Lees

June 17, 1932 - May 13, 2017