Obituary of Ruth Arline Hathaway Cottrill

Ruth Arline Hathaway Cottrill Ruth Arline Hathaway Cottrill of Charleston, W.Va., passed away on Wednesday June 8th, at the age of 93. She was the daughter of the late Austin George Hathaway and Eunice Snyder Hathaway of Barbour County and the wife of the late Hersel Lee Cottrill. Ruth and Hersel lived in Charleston for more than 50 years. In addition to her parents and husband, she is preceded in death by her brother Orion M. Hathaway and sister Betty Hathaway Yeager, both of Barbour County, and her son Alan Hersel Cottrill of Charleston. She is survived by sons Gary Lee Cottrill of Charleston and Mark Wayne Cottrill (Kelsey) of Morgantown; nine grandchildren: Justin Cottrill (Maggie Perry), Elizabeth Cottrill (Chén Kenyon), Anne Cottrill, Christopher Cottrill, Adam Cottrill, Amy Cottrill Hitchcock (Chris Hitchcock), Anna Ruth Cottrill (Kevin Crupe), David Cottrill (Devon) and Logan Cottrill (Jessica Hudson); three great-grandchildren Owen Mark Hitchcock, Landon Alan Cottrill, and Avery Ruth Crupe; and Jody Dodd Cottrill (Atlanta) and Vickey Stone Cottrill (Logan, Ohio). Ruth was born on April 10, 1923, at Walnut Hill Farm in rural Talbott Community, Barbour County, W.Va. She was a 1941 graduate of Belington High School. She completed her studies at West Virginia Wesleyan College in 1946 and became an elementary school teacher in rural Upshur County, teaching in one room schools. Ruth was deeply involved with 4-H clubs winning several awards for outstanding accomplishments including attending the Opportunity School at Berea College in Berea Ky. and later serving as a 4-H leader in Upshur County. She met her husband, Hersel, while attending Wesleyan and they began their 58 year marriage on April 21, 1946, in a ceremony officiated by the groom's father, the late Rev. Shirley Cottrill. Ruth and Hersel lived initially in Buckhannon, where Gary was born, then moved to Beckley where Mark was born, then Huntington and finally moved to Charleston in 1959 where Alan was born in 1961. As the mother of three sons, she became involved in scouting, first as a den-mother then as an instructor training others for leadership positions in scouting. The Long Riffle District of Kanawha County selected Ruth for the 1973 Award of Merit making her the first female recipient of this award in the district. She was a member of Central United Methodist Church from 1959 until it was merged with Canaan United Methodist Church in 2008. While a member at Central she taught Sunday school and served on many committees and held leadership positions in many groups including the United Methodist Women, Altar Guild, and Council on Ministries and served as the church historian. In July 2008 she became a member of Canaan United Methodist Church and was selected to serve on the Lay Leadership Team. In addition to being a teacher in Upshur County, Ruth was employed by the Exponent-Telegram Newspaper in Clarksburg and for 18 years at Lance’s Card and Party Shop in Charleston, W.Va. After retiring from Lance's she helped her husband Hersel establish the Cottrill Agency which focused on real estate and insurance. In her later years she turned her focus to her grandchildren and more recently her great-grandchildren. Rev. Dr. Jay Parkins will lead a memorial service honoring Ruth’s life on Tuesday, June 28, at Christ Church United Methodist, 1221 Quarrier St, Charleston, W.Va., 25301. Visitors will be received from 4:00 – 5:00 P.M. The memorial service will begin at 5:00 followed by a reception at the church. Final internment will be at Heavener Cemetery in Buckhannon W. Va. on Wednesday June 29th with a grave side service at 11:00 A.M. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in memory of Alan H. Cottrill to Hubbard Hospice House, 1001 Curtis Price Way, Charleston, WV 25311, or in memory of Ruth A. Cottrill to Canaan United Methodist Church, 401 Roane St., Charleston, W.Va., 25302. Arrangements have been entrusted to Hastings Funeral Home in Morgantown, W. Va. Online condolences may be made at www.hastingsfuneralhome.com.