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- Obituary: Ruth Georgina Shea Willett, age 95, of Dahlonega, GA, died July 12, 2015, after a brief illness.
She was known and loved by many for her creativity, her hospitality, her wry sense of humor, her nurturing and encouraging spirit, her listening ear, her Christian wisdom, and her gifts of teaching, both of the English language and of the Bible.
Born in Houghton, NY, on January 18, 1920, of Canadian parents, she grew up in Ottawa, Canada, Jersey City, NJ, and Syracuse, NY. Her father, the Rev. Adam Joseph Shea, and her mother, Maude Mary Whitney Shea, served pastorates in each city. She graduated from Houghton (NY) College in 1941. That same year, she married Edward J. Willett of Syracuse, NY, who served in World War II. Following 20 years in business, the family moved to Houghton, NY, where Edward became Professor of Economics at the College from which both of them had graduated.
Four children were born to the family: Daniel Starbuck Willett, who married the former Karen Mikesell (now Mrs. Wally Lorimer) and worked for Syracuse University until his death at 47 in 1989; Thomas Leslie Willett, a linguist now based in Tucson, AZ, who with his wife, Elizabeth Remington Willett, has served with Wycliffe Bible Translators for 40 years; Rev. Christine W. Greenwald, Assistant Pastor at the Dahlonega United Methodist Church, who came to Dahlonega in 1997 with her husband, the Rev. Gary Greenwald (now retired), upon his appointment to serve as Director/Manager at Camp Glisson; and Holly Beth Willett Gillette, who was a faithful pastor's wife to the Rev. John R. Gillette (now pastor of the Mooers, NY, Wesleyan Church), until her death at age 41.
In addition to her parents, husband, son, and daughter, Ruth was also predeceased by her seven siblings: Pauline Shea Lusk, Gerald Whitney Shea, Mary Shea Robinson, George Beverly Shea, Alton James Shea, Lois Shea Wright, and Grace Shea Baker.
A sister-in-law, Karlene Shea, of Montreat, NC, eleven grandchildren, 19 great-grandchildren and numerous nephews and nieces survive.
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1920 - 2015 (95 years)
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