Ruth Merriman

Ruth Merriman, 92, of Wauconda, IL passed away Monday, December 15, 2014 in Arlington Heights, IL.

She was born May 11, 1922 in Chicago to William and Elizabeth (Sheparski) Schloen. On February 14, 1942 she married William Frederick Merriman.

Ruth graduated from Lucy Flower Technical High School in Chicago. She met her loving husband Fred while they both worked at Carson Pirie Scott & Co. in downtown Chicago. They built their first home in Niles, IL. where they raised their family. Later, they built their home in Wauconda. The last eleven years she lived at Eastgate Manor in Algonquin.

Her working career consisted of employment at Avon Products in Morton Grove and United Airlines in Elk Grove. She was proud and thankful for the opportunity to travel extensively throughout the world. Some of these places include Iran, Lebanon, Egypt, Kenya, China, India, Iceland, Hong Kong, Australia, New Zealand and many others.

Ruth was actively involved in the Girl Scouts and Parent Teachers Assn. while raising her family. One of her proudest accomplishments is that she was the first female to be voted the president of a School Board in the State of Illinois. She spent many hours as a volunteer with the Salvation Army and other volunteer programs. Of these, her most extensive volunteerism was at Good Shepard Hospital in Barrington.

As a young girl she was a member of Job’s Daughters Masonic Organization at Myrtle Masonic Temple in Chicago. As she was setting up her reception to become Honored Queen, they heard the news that WWII had broken out.
As an adult she became the Guardian and then Deputy Grand Guardian of that organization. She was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star for more than 70 years.

She was preceded in death by her parents and husband. She is survived by her sister Eleanor Schloen Anderson; three children, Steven Charles (Arlene) Merriman , Sue Carole (Dale) Strang, and William Glen (Bonnie) Merriman; grandchildren, Deanna Grivetti, Melissa Blunk, Jennifer Burdick, Tim Merriman, Stephanie Merriman, Kevin Merriman, Christopher Merriman, and Amanda Merriman; great-grandchildren, Elizabeth Grivetti, Sarah Grivetti, Leah Grivetti, Hannah Grivetti, and Bailey Merriman; nephews, Andrew Anderson and Laurence (Diane) Anderson; and niece Nancy (Robert) Hoffman.

The memorial visitation is being held Saturday, December 20 from 9:30am to 11:00am followed by the 11:00am funeral at Davenport Family Funeral Home & Crematory, 419 E. Terra Cotta Avenue (Route 176), Crystal Lake. The internment is at Acacia Memorial Park in Norridge, IL.