Ruth A. Caldwell

Ruth A. Caldwell, 87, of Benton Harbor, passed away, Wednesday, June 6, 2018 at Caretel Inns of Lakeland in St. Joseph. A Celebration of Life Service will be held 10:00 A.M. Monday, June 11, 2018 at Starks & Menchinger Chapel, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph, with Rev. LaVerne Davenport officiating.  Burial will follow at North Shore Memory Gardens in Coloma.  Friends may visit with the family from 3:00 until 5:00 P.M. Sunday at the funeral home.  Memorials in Ruth’s name may be made to Berrien County Cancer Service.  Those wishing to sign Ruth’s Memory Book online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com. Ruth was born one of sixteen children on April 8, 1931 in Stevensville to Paul & Bertha (Lucker) Hoge.  She attended Stevensville High School and finished at Baroda High School.  Ruth was baptized, confirmed and taught Sunday School at Zion United Church of Christ in Baroda.  On February 23, 1952, she was also married there to Robert Caldwell.  Ruth worked at VM Corp. in Benton Harbor for several years before gaining employment at Shepherd Products from where she retired after more than twenty years.  Even though she worked outside the home, Ruth devoted her life to caring for her family.  She was an excellent wife, mother, cook, baker & seamstress.  Ruth was a beautiful woman down to her soul in the fact that she could make others smile and always had a twinkle in her eye.  She babysat for many area families & was a Den Mother while her boys were in scouting.  After moving to Fairplain, Ruth and her family joined Fairplain Presbyterian Church where she taught Sunday School for many years.  Ruth enjoyed reading when she was not busy with all her other activities, and was formerly a member of the Women of the Moose Lodge #405. Ruth is survived by her son Steven (Rhonda) Caldwell of Middleton, WI; four grandchildren-Marissa Caldwell, Megan Stafford, Andrew & Aaron Caldwell; two great-grandchildren-Layla Stafford & Lucy Semenas; two sisters-Barbara (Ivan) Layman of Berrien Center, Roberta (Jerry) Mitchell of Stevensville; sisters-in-law-Joyce Harte, Eleanor Hoge, Lela Hoge, Marcina Hoge, Delois Hoge; and numerous nieces & nephews & great nieces & nephews.  Ruth was preceded in death by her husband Robert on March 11, 2009, by her son William A. Caldwell in July 2012, and by brothers & sisters-Caroline Stark, Irene Merrill, Dorothy Warsco, Richard Hoge, Edward Hoge, Charles Hoge, Ray Hoge, Jean Dietrich, Donna Shepherd, Paul “Skeeter” Hoge, William Hoge, Kenneth Hoge & Joan Hoge.