Ruth Esther Miller, 85, of Kingston
KINGSTON » Ruth Esther Miller, 85, of Kingston, N.Y., passed away Thursday, May 17, 2018, at the Northeast Center in Lake Katrine, N.Y.
She was born on Oct. 6, 1932, to the late Homer and Cornelia (Brown) Van Aken. She was a graduate of Kingston High School, class of 1951.
Ruth literally grew up on the golf course and was quite the golfer; the first tee of the original Wiltwyck golf course was in her backyard. Her dad was the groundskeeper and she and her siblings would play all the time. She would caddie for the pros at Wiltwyck and at times even beat them. She later worked as a telephone operator for many years before raising her family. Besides her own children, she was considered “mother” to many others that she helped raise over the years. When her children got older, Ruth went to work at Metropolitan Life, where she worked nights cleaning the building. She then decided to take a year off to spend with her son in Florida. When she returned to New York, she became certified as a personal care aide and worked at Ulster Home Care, and she loved every second of it.
Her greatest joys in life were first and foremost her children and grandchildren. Her other loves were cooking, baking, gardening, crocheting, sewing, and taking care of everyone she knew. Ruth had the heart of an angel and the most beautiful blue eyes you ever saw, and when she smiled at you, her eyes lit up and it melted your heart.
She is survived by her children, Donald Miller, Guy (Adelina) Miller, Cindy (Frank) Godfrey, Patricia (James Malone) Miller, and Richard Miller; her siblings, Mary Demskie, Edna Brocco, Lois (Ralph) Caterino, and Donald (Marilyn) Van Aken; her grandchildren, Guy Miller Jr., Justin Grater, Alexander Miller, Melissa Miller, Erica Grater, Emily Miller, Patty Wojcik, and Judy Ferrante; 13 great-grandchildren; and a very loving and dedicated niece, JoAnne Elmendorf; along with many other nieces and nephews.
In addition to her parents, Ruth was predeceased by her son, George Miller, and her siblings, Homer Van Aken, William Van Aken, Harold Van Aken, Helen Naccarato, and Sarah Tillson.
Entrusted to the care of Keyser Funeral & Cremation Service, 326 Albany Ave., Kingston, where family and friends may visit on Tuesday, May 22, 2018, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. The funeral service will take place at 11 a.m. at the funeral home on Wednesday, May 23, 2018. Burial will follow in Montrepose Cemetery, Kingston.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Jude Children’s Hospital at www.StJude.org. To leave an expression of sympathy, please visit www.KeyserFuneralService.com.