Ruth M. (Hankinson) Hillegass

Mrs. Ruth M. Hillegass, 90 of Buena Road, Schellsburg, died at 4:25 PM, Tuesday, April 15th, 2014 at Pennknoll Village.

Mrs. Hillegass was born in New Baltimore on Saturday, June 2, 1923,  she was the daughter of the late Edward J. Hankinson and Gladys (Landis) Hankinson.  She was reared in the home of her father and stepmother, the late Margaret (Topper) Hankinson.

On June 4, 1947, she married Paul J. "Forney" Hillegass.  He preceded her in death on August 18, 2000.

She is survived by Daughter- Joyce A. Ansell wife of Lee, Schellsburg; Son- Henry A. Hillegass husband of Thelma  (Leister) of Schellsburg; Son- Joseph P. Hillegass husband of Beverly (Welsh) of Schellsburg; Sister- Ida Hillegass of New Baltimore; Brother- Urban Hankinson of Millersville, MD and by 9 grandchildren and 16 great grandchildren.  She was preceded in death by three sisters, Anna Trabucco, Mary Will & Sally Beltz and by two brothers, Pius Hankinson & Wayne Hankinson.

Ruth was a member of the St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in New Baltimore.  She was a 1941 graduate of Shanksville-Stoneycreek High School.  During W.W.II, she was one of the "Rosie the Riveters" in Pittsburgh.  Along with her husband, she was the co-owner of a line of school bus serving the Chestnut Ridge Schools and Juniata Township Schools.

A Funeral Mass will be held at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, New Baltimore at 10:00 AM on Monday, April 21st, 2014 with Father Richard Tomkosky celebrant.

Committal will be held at Schellsburg Cemetery.

Friends are invited to call on Saturday, April 19th from 5:00 - 8:00 PM at Mickle-Geisel Funeral Home, Schellsburg.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Johns Church, 101 Findley St., New Baltimore, PA 15553 or to the American Diabetes Association, P.O. Box 11454, Alexandria, VA  22312

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