Ruth Hanson, 100 formerly of New Sharon passed away in Annapolis, Maryland on May 29, 2021. Private family graveside services and burial will be held in the Friends Cemetery in New Sharon on Saturday, October 9, 2021. Memorial services were held at the St. Martin's Lutheran Church in Annapolis, MD.

Ruth was born in 1920 in New Sharon, Iowa, to John and June Phillips, She was a member of St. Martin's Evangelical Lutheran Church in Annapolis. Ruth graduated from New Sharon High School in 1938 where she was a member of the Glee Club and the basketball team. During her teenage years she was a member of the Bob Morris Hand Balancing Troupe. She was New Sharon's first Rose Queen in 1938. In March of 1942, she went to Washington D.C. at the beginning of WWII where, for the next 12 years she was employed by the Federal Government in the Defense Department, Census Bureau, Interstate Commerce Department and the Department of Health and Human Services. She was married to Robert Hanson in 1949. In later years she was employed by the Maryland State Public Schools in Prince George's County. She and her husband moved to Frederick, Maryland in 1978 where they volunteered for the Frederick Literacy Council. In 1993 they moved to Annapolis where she volunteered for 12 years for Meals on Wheels. Ruth was an avid walker and enjoyed the outdoors. She enjoyed sports, music, books, cross stitching, crossword puzzles and the computer.

She was preceded in death by Robert Hanson, her husband of 48 years; her parents; her sisters Lois Fleener, Avis VerSteegh, Mildred Reiner, Phyllis Williams, Betty Cassill and Audree Phillips; and her brothers Vance Phillips, Lowell Phillips and John Phillips.

She is survived by daughter Carol and husband Thomas Hennessy of Annapolis; daughter Barbara and husband James Walton of Martinez, Georgia; brother Lawrance Phillips of Berkeley, California; granddaughters Erica Hennessy Ward (Jimmy) of Annapolis, Laura Hennessy Pillar (Andrew) of New Jersey and 5 great grandchildren, Freddy and Trudy Ward; and Katerina, Joy and Abigale Pillar. In addition to her immediate family, she will be missed by her many nieces, nephews and friends.