Obituary of Ruth Helen GOFF, Macoupin County Illinois 22 March 1998
Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives ©1998 Michelle Bley

Name of Deceased: GOFF, Ruth Helen
Name of Newspaper: Staunton Star-Times
Date of Obituary: April 5, 1928 
Obituary: Ruth Helen GOFF, little daughter of Dr. and Mrs. A.C. GOFF, on Friday
morning at 5:50 o'clock passed away at the St. Francis hospital at Litchfield, after
a serious illness of more than a week's duration. As was reported in our last issue,
the little one was despaerately ill for serveral days and the soothing hand of death
came as a relief. Ruth Helen GOFF was born March 5, 1922 at Sallisaw, Okla.,
a daughter of Rev. and Mrs. J.S. WILLBANKS. At the age of seven months she 
came to Staunton with her parents where Rev. WILLBANKS served as pastor of
the Presbyterian church. At the age of ten months, Ruth's mother became ill and at
that time Dr. and Mrs. GOFF took the baby to their home and cared for her. On the
following Easter morning she was baptized in the Presbyterian church by her father.
On March 8, 1925, Ruth's mother died, and three days later Dr. and Mrs. GOFF
adopted her. Funeral services were held Monday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock at the
Presbyterian church and the number of relatives and friends who gathered to attend
the last sad rites was so large that the church could not accommodate all who came.
Ministers who officiated were Rev. E. N. GOFF, pastor of the Clifton Heights
Presbyterian church and Rev. Francis Lee GOFF, pastor of the Rock Hill
Presbyterian church, both of St. Louis and Dr. A. M. EELLS of Hillsboro. Hymns
were sung by a quartet comprised of Mesdames A. C. WEBSTER, E. D. GEORGE,
Paul J. LUKER and Irwin MCLAUCHLAN, with Mrs. C. W. F. KING as piano
accompanist. Pallbearers were Harvey STROUD, Roland SAWYER, Thos.
KINNIKIN and Wellman FRANCE. Flower girls were Annette PREDGEN, Velma
MCCRACKEN, Charlotte O'CONNOR, Kate COOL, Winona O'NEAL, Elizabeth
HAMMOND, Geraldine DEVRIES and Lenice FISCHER. She is survived by her
foster parents, Dr. and Mrs. GOFF; her foster grandmother, Mrs. Mary BLEY
DRIPPS; her great uncle, Dr. D. L. BLEY, who resides with the family; her father,
Rev. J. S. WiLLBANKS, and two brothers, Oscar and Robert WILLBANKS of 
Wampsville, N.Y.; one half- sister, Mrs. Harold ROWE of Tulsa, Okla.; one
half-brother, Echoles WILLBANKS of Baltimore, Md.; her grandmother, Mrs.
E. WILLBANKS of Heber Springs, Ark.; her grandfather, N. NOBLE of
Cody, Wyo.; an uncle, Gridley P. WILLBANKS of Newport, Ark, and a host
of friends. The officiating clergyman closed the obituary with these words: So ends 
her Life's Chapter! We knew her only to love her and be hallowed by her purity.
Her outstanding graces were her generosity and loving kindness, her obedience
and responsive love, her unselfish thoughtfullness and her queenliness. We are made
richer by those few short years she was with us and can only say, "God's will be done."

USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages cannot be reproduced in any format
for profit or other presentation. Material may be freely used by non-commercial entities,
as long as this message remains on all copied material, *and* permission  is obtained
from the contributor of the file.
File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Michelle Bley.
(© 1998 Michelle Bley)