Ruth Ann Williams Baldwin

Ruth Ann Williams Baldwin, 69, of Tinton Falls, passed away on April 12, 2009 at the Jersey Shore Medical Center. She was born February 20, 1940 in Philpot, Kentucky and raised in Daviess County where she attended Philpot Elementary School and Daviess County High School graduating in 1958. She was the third of ten children and grew up in rural Kentucky working in the tobacco fields to earn her college tuition funds. She pursued her nursing degree by attending pre-nursing at Murray State College, graduating from Owensboro/Daviess County School of Nursing in 1961. Mrs. Baldwin joined the US Air Force in 1962 as a 2nd Lieutenant, serving in USAF hospitals in Alabama and San Antonio. She married Gary Baldwin, on May 2, 1964, in San Antonio, Texas where she and Gary were both serving with the US Air Force. Ruth Ann left the Air Force in 1965 and continued working as a nurse in San Antonio. With the birth of their daughter Jo Ann in 1969, Ruth Ann began a second career as a full-time mother. Ruth Ann was an accomplished seamstress, making most of her daughter's clothing. Ruth Ann was a Girl Scout Leader, a school nurse, a "city champion" distance runner, and even found time to volunteer as a committee person in city government. As she raised her daughter and followed her husband's career moves around the country, Ruth Ann continued to elevate her nursing education by acquiring a Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 1979 and her Master of Science in Nursing in 1985. Mrs. Baldwin resumed her nursing career, working as a clinical nurse in various challenging assignments and eventually made her greatest contribution to her profession while serving for fifteen years as a faculty member at the University of Texas, School of Nursing until she retired in 2001. Her students were her life and getting them off to a good start in nursing was her focus.

She is survived by her husband Gary, living at Seabrook Village in Tinton Falls, NJ; her daughter and son-in-law Jo Ann & Eric Becher, of Ocean, NJ; her mother, Lou Anna Ambrose Williams of Philpot; brothers, Earl D. (Virginia) Williams of Philpot and Roger G. (Nelda) Williams of Masonville; sisters, Nancy (Frank) Yaun, Frances Eckstein, and Katherine Williams all of Philpot, Janet (Odie) Eaves of Utica, Phyllis (David) Cook of Owensboro, Donna Sue O'Kelley of Rapid City, SD, and Sheila (Jeff) Candy of Lexington; and many nieces and nephews.

Services 2 p.m. Saturday, April 18, 2009 at Bethabara Baptist Church with Dr. Herschel Morgan officiating followed by burial in the church cemetery with military honors rendered by VFW Post 696. Visitation will be from 5-8 p.m. on Friday at Glenn Funeral Home and after noon on Saturday at the church.

Expressions of sympathy may take the form of donations in her memory to the Fisher House Foundation, 111 Rockville Pike, Ste 420, Rockville, MD 20850 or online at www.fisherhouse.com

Online condolences may be left at www.glennfuneralhome.com