Ruth Hamilton

Ruth Hamilton passed away at her Jewel Lake home Wednesday, August 21. She was 80. Ruth Evelyn was born to Reverend Raymond and Alma Blackstone in Chewelah, Washington February 15, 1933. She grew up in Spokane and graduated from West Valley High School in 1950. She met her husband of 60 years, Bob Hamilton, in grade school and they married in 1951 at the Millwood Presbyterian Church in Spokane Valley. The couple remained in the Spokane area until 1961 when they moved their growing family to Jewel Lake in Sandpoint. Ruth raised four children before going to work at Sandpoint High School with her husband in the late seventies. She was the bookkeeper there for 18 years before joining Bob in retirement at the same lake home where they raised their children. There they spent nearly the next 20 years enjoying two of their favorite things: their property and each other’s company. Those who knew Ruth will attest she was truly one of the kindest people in the world. Indeed, that kindness is what she will best be remembered for. With rarely an ill word about anyone or anything, she loved Bob, her family and gardening—in that order. She also had an affinity for frogs and pie. She was adored by Bob, who called her the “template for all the beautiful women” in his family and insisted that if everyone could taste her cooking, there would be world peace. She was preceded in death by Bob a little over one year ago, her parents, and her sister Margee of Seattle. She is survived by their legacy: daughter Sue and her husband Dale Tucker of Sagle; daughter Margee and her husband Rex Timblin of Laclede; son Robert and his wife Liz Hamilton of Baltimore; and daughter Annie and her husband John Regan of Phoenix. Look up “grandma” in the dictionary and one will find Ruth’s picture. No one was more proud of her six grandchildren; Erin, Carly, Jeffrey, Devin, Ryan and Brad; and ten great grandchildren; Lily, Chloe Ruth, Cyrus, Tyler, Emma, Maia, Jagger, Megan, Edie and Wesley. There will be a private family memorial on her property.