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Obituaries » Ruth V. Bolen

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April 13, 1927 - November 29, 2021

There will be no service. A private family gathering will be held. Interment will be December 3, 2021 at Mt. Ever-Rest Memorial Park-South. Contribution in memory of Ruth may be directed to the Alzheimer’s Association or the Kalamazoo Humane Society.

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BOLEN, Ruth Viola
of Kalamazoo

 Age 94, passed away on November 29, 2021. Born Ruth Viola Brasher on April 13, 1927 in Wayne County, Tennessee, she was the third child to parents, Nimrod and Mary (Wilson) Brazier/Brasher. Ruth married Dudley Jackson Bolen on May 31, 1947, in Searcy, AR and began growing their family to four children. In 1957, they bought their first home in the country area of Plainwell and lived there until 1967 when they bought a larger home in the city of Plainwell. Ruth moved to Kalamazoo in 1981 and remained there until her death. The beginning of her life was during the Great Depression, and she learned early about hard work, hardships and doing without. Her family were all migrant workers, traveling the country with the harvest. Ruth picked and chopped cotton in the South and continued around this great country picking apples, cherries, strawberries and whatever other fruits came in season. She became a strong independent woman that lasted her entire life. She never had a permanent home because of all the travel which made her want to give a wonderful home to her children. Ruth always enjoyed family at her home for all holidays, her birthday and any time anyone wanted to just stop over. Her family loved hearing her stories of her youth. It was so amazing hearing about all she lived through and all she had done. Ruth had a collection of anything and everything related to chicken and rooster items including dishes, linens, knick-knacks and garden décor. Ruth always had a dog – always a chihuahua. The last one was Jill who she loved dearly. Jill has been adopted by her daughter, Jo and is still thriving. Her family was the most important thing to her, from her parents, siblings, in-laws, nieces, nephews and then to her own children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and onto her great-great-granddaughter. She was always so nurturing and babysat many different children in her home to add to the family funds, but mostly because she just loved the children. After her children were mostly grown, she began to work outside the home. Ruth retired from Parker Hannifin Pneumatics in Otsego when she was 62. The most important thing in her life was her God. She testified to all her children about her love for God and wanted them to learn about her Lord and share her love of Him. She enjoyed listening to J. Vernon McGee, a pastor/teacher on the Thru the Bible Ministries, who taught the complete study of the Bible in five years. It didn’t take Ruth five years and she repeated the program many times. Ruth had so many creative talents. She sewed most of her children’s clothing when they were young. She loved to quilt and paint, but her best-known talent was in crochet. She crocheted elaborate afghans from yarn, but also crocheted dresses for the grand-girls and made doilies, potholders and a beautiful tablecloth with the finest threads. She was a great gardener, mostly in flowers – especially roses. Ruth was preceded in death by her parents; her former husband, Dudley Jackson Bolen; daughter, Judy Dickinson and Judy’s husband, George Dickinson; grandson, Douglas Wine II; brothers, Roy Brasher, Nimrod “Bud” Brazier, Jr. and W.M. Brazier and sisters, Gertie Wilson, Edna Melton, and 2-week-old Doyle. Ruth is survived by her children, Rodger Dell (Patricia) Bolen of Kalamazoo, MI, Mamie “Jo” (previously married to Douglas) Wine of Kalamazoo, MI and L. Richard (June) Bolen of Pittsburg, KS; grandchildren, Diana (Wayne Herring) Wine, Sarah (Eric) Leese, Laura (Chris Smith) Bolen, George (Tira) Dickinson II, Steven Dickinson, Kristopher (Kathy) Dickinson, Nathan (Leslie) Dickinson, Patrick Dickinson and Suzanne Dickinson; great-grandchildren, Brandon Wine, Keanu Wine, Legacy Herring, Bryson Bolen, Andrew Leese and Jonathan Leese; great-great-granddaughter, Charlie Wine and several other great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren. There will be no service. A private family gathering will be held. Interment will be December 3, 2021 at Mt. Ever-Rest Memorial Park-South. Contribution in memory of Ruth may be directed to the Alzheimer’s Association or the Kalamazoo Humane Society.