COLUMBUS GROVE__Ruth Ellen Hammer (Ruthie) of Columbus Grove passed peacefully on Saturday, November 25 at The Meadows of Ottawa.

She was born Ruth Ellen Beck on June 11, 1935 to Herbert and Mary Beck. She attended Lakeview High School and on October 3, 1955, she married Charles “Tack” Hammer who passed away March 19, 2015. Ruth is also preceded in death by 11 siblings and survived by 2 siblings Donald (Angie) Beck and Jim (Mary Margaret) Beck.

Ruth worked at Triplett Company for two years and spent the rest of her career as a homemaker and farmer’s wife. Ruth and Charles farmed in Allen County until 2010. They raised a daughter and three sons who are all surviving. Wallace (Cynthia) Hammer, Tobi Ann (Ronald) Meyer, Tony (Missy Fagan) Hammer, and Trent (Jennifer) Hammer. She loved watching her grandchildren and was a big part of their lives growing up: Amber (Larry Stanley) Stratton, Jennifer (Elliott) Lewis, Jackie (Dale Schumaker) Hammer, Mike (Kym Johnson) Hammer, Ryan (Jessica) Meyer, Cory (Molly) Meyer, Trevor (Molly) Meyer, Gabe (Hannah) Meyer, Jared (Jadyn) Meyer, Lydia (Kyle) Wilkins, Gillian (Derrick Lowe) Hammer, Cole (Ainsley Miller) Hammer, Abby Hammer, Mason Hammer, and Rachel (Alex Kohler) Hammer. Ruth also enjoyed her 24 great grandchildren and one great-great grandchild.

Throughout her life she was active in the Cairo United Methodist Church, Cairo and later attended Rockport Community Bible Church, Rockport. Ruth was a member of the Farm Bureau. She loved shopping, traveling, and especially camping with the Myers gang. During her spare time, she enjoyed numerous types of jigsaw puzzles, word search, and Sudoku. She was a huge fan of The Ohio State Buckeyes.

Ruth was a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother who dearly loved her family. She was a selfless caring woman with a heart of gold. She will be dearly missed by all who knew her.

The funeral service will be 11:00 a.m. Thursday, November 30, 2023 at the HEITMEYER FUNERAL HOME, Columbus Grove with Pastor David Glick officiating. Burial will follow in Rockport Cemetery, Rockport. The family will receive friends on Wednesday from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. and again on Thursday from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Putnam County Homecare and Hospice, Rockport Community Bible Church or the charity of the donor's choice.

Condolences may be expressed to the family at [email protected]