Hills, Ruth E.

Ruth E. Hills

On Dec. 7, 1928, in Nashville, Tenn., a sophisticated lady named Ruth Elizabeth Southall was born to John Walter and Ruth Amanda Southall. Ruth, along with her two younger sisters, Annie Lucille and Mary Lee Southall, grew up in Nashville and attended school there. Ruth's father was a preacher and it was under his teachings that she accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as her Savior.

One day, a handsome Army man came to Nashville and saw this sophisticated lady. It was love at first sight. His first words to Ruth were, “I'm gonna marry you, you little yellow gal.” To which she replied, indignantly, “No, you're not!” However, it seems that young man, Thomas Clarence Hills, affectionately known as “T.C.”, was right and at 16 years old, Ruth married 21-year-old Thomas. Once again Thomas made a declaration to Ruth, “I'm gonna get 10 kids outta you, Peaches!” To which she replied, “No, you're not, T.C.!” And once again, Thomas was right.

After moving from Tennessee to Mississippi to Chicago, Ruth worked as a housekeeper in Chicago hotels, while T.C. worked as a taxicab driver. As the 10 children arrived (four single children and three sets of twins), Ruth devoted herself to caring for them and her husband. She prepared meals that were so good, everyone came around for a taste. Holidays were the family favorite. Barbecues in the backyard, Thanksgiving in the house - no matter the occasion, Ruth showed out. She loved watching the cooking channel, but of course, she never tried any of the recipes because in her words, “These people don't know how to cook!” Only she knew the right way.

Ruth enjoyed 57 inseparable years of marriage to T.C. until his death separated them in the year 2000. But they were never really apart. After his death, she moved to Coralville, Iowa and was known to always say, “ ‘Daddy' visits me in my dreams.” And during her brief illness, she would say she looked forward to meeting “Daddy” in heaven. On Dec. 24, 2011, at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Ruth and T.C. were reunited in heaven. Their marriage is still a shining example of unconditional love and unwavering commitment.

Ruth was preceded in death by her husband, Thomas C. Hills; son, Thomas Gene Hills; grandson, Darnell Hills; father, John Walter Southall; mother, Ruth Amanda Southall; and sisters, Annie Lucille Jenkins and Mary Lee Lipscomb.

She leaves to cherish her memory nine children, Dorothy (Ronald, deceased) McClendon, Shirlene Bryant, John (Ora, deceased) Hills, Manuel Hills, Samuel Hills, Denise (Ronald, deceased) Angel, Anthony (Sheree) Hills, Rhonda and Ronald (Lisa) Hills; 19 grandchildren, Ronald McClendon Jr., Thomas Steve McClendon, Reginald McClendon, Juanita McClendon, Kalvin McClendon, Gregory Hills, Devon Hills, Eric Bryant, Antonio Bryant, Tracia Goodman, Terrence (Karen) Hills, Devon (Shalonda) Hills, Michael (Tasha) Angel, Robyn (Brian) Fleming, Anthony Hills Jr., Marcus Hills, Genice Hills, Deandrea White and Jennifer Coleman; 31 great-grandchildren; and a host of nieces, nephews and other family members.

A celebration of Ruth's life will begin Saturday at noon at Lensing's Oak Hill, 210 Holiday Rd. in Coralville. Visitation will be held from 10 a.m. until noon at the funeral home. Burial will be in Oak Hill Cemetery in Coralville.

Memorials may be directed to The Ruth E. Hills Memorial Fund.

Online condolences may be left at

Published Dec. 29, 2011, in The Gazette