Mary R. “Ruth” Guymon Denisar, 95, passed away Wednesday, March 10, 2021, at The Davis Community Health Care Center, Wilmington.
Ruth was born May 2, 1925, in Lucerne, Missouri, the last of six children to George and Ada Grace (Bruce) Guymon. She married Raymond Leslie Denisar on Feb. 2, 1943. He preceded her in death on Feb. 18, 2006.
Also preceding her in death were her daughter, Ruth Ann Hickey of Abingdon, Illinois; and her son, Thomas Lee Felts of Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Surviving are five children, Roger Denisar (Kay) of Indianapolis, Indiana, Rodney Denisar (Diane) of Sarasota, Florida, Mary Felts Marquis of Geneva, Illinois, Resa Denisar Mayor (Clint Cuthriell) of Durham, and Rita Denisar Forness (Kevin) of Galveston, Texas; and 13 grandchildren and 26 great-grandchildren.
Ray and Ruth lived most of their married life and raised their family in Abingdon, Illinois. They were active members of the Abingdon Christian Church and served for many years as youth sponsors. They owned Denisar Paint Service in Abingdon and combined their talents for painting, wallpapering and her love of sewing to provide custom drapes and décor for customers in the Abingdon area.
They were avid travelers and campers, taking their large family on summer trips that eventually extended to most of the states within the mainland United States.
Upon his retirement from the U.S. Postal Service, they first moved to Galesburg, Illinois, until their youngest daughter, Rita, finished high school, and Ruth received her associate degree from Carl Sandberg Junior College. They then moved to Hattiesburg, Mississippi, where Ruth became a teaching assistant at Mary Bethune Middle School until her eventual retirement. A few years later, they moved to Harlingen, Texas, where they lived near their son Roger until 2002.
During their years in Mississippi, they were fortunate enough to travel to Kenya to visit daughter Rita and her family, and then on to Hawaii. While living in Texas, they traveled to Alaska to complete their tour of the entire United States. In 2002, they moved back to Illinois to be near daughter Resa in Champaign, Illinois. While a member of the First Christian Church there, Ruth faithfully served in the Stephen’s Ministry program.
When Resa moved to Wilmington in 2015, Ruth followed her and lived out the remaining years of her life, welcoming visits from family and friends to her new warmer location. Ruth became a member of the Winter Park Baptist Church of Wilmington, where she made many good friends.
Interment will be held in the Abingdon Cemetery, Abingdon, Illinois. A graveside service will be held for family and close family friends on Tuesday, June 29 at 10:30 am.