Ruth Coate

Ruth Lichtenberger Coate, 93, of Decatur, died Sunday, September 30, 2012, at St. Mary's Hospital. Funeral services will be 2:00 P.M. Wednesday, October 3, at Brintlinger and Earl Funeral Home. Visitation will be 4-6 P.M. Tuesday, October 2, at the funeral home. Burial will be in Graceland Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the American Heart Association or Mt. Zion Presbyterian Church. Ruth was born December 27, 1918, in Oakley, IL, the daughter of Wilbur Cleveland and Jennie (Hayes) Lichtenberger. She married George William Adkesson in El Paso, TX on May 5, 1943. He preceded her in death on May 16, 1971. She married Lloyd Ralph Coate April 5, 1986, in Decatur. He preceded her in death on October 21, 1999. Ruth taught in the Decatur School District 61, and retired from the Niantic-Harristown School District as a first grade elementary school teacher. She was a member of Mt. Zion Presbyterian Church, and a life time member of PTA, Illinois Education Association, and Decatur Area Retired Teachers Association. Ruth enjoyed sewing, piecing quilts, reading, and doing embroidery. She is survived by her children: Dennis Adkesson and wife Ann of Decatur; Martha Williams and husband Dwayne of Decatur; sisters: Janet DeVore and Evelyn Hayes, both of Decatur; grandchildren: Michael Flynn and wife Nancy, Tisha Birch, Michael Adkesson and wife Adriane, Stephanie Wilson-Brown and husband Steven, Heather Young and husband Jeff; great grandchildren: Jacquelyn Flynn, Carly Birch, Tyler Adkesson, Ava Wilson, Lily Brown, and Andy Young. Ruth was preceded in death by her parents, husbands, two brothers, and five sisters. "
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