Ruth Hannah (nee Hannah) Sutton

Ruth Esther Hannah Sutton, 97, long-time resident of Ingleside, Illinois, passed peacefully on February 6, 2022, in Lombard IL, of natural causes. She was born on March 30, 1924, in Duluth MN to Herbert and Edna Hannah, and moved to Chicago at the age of 16. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband Clarence Sutton and their son Stephen Sutton. She is survived by daughters Mary Ellen Sutton Ward of Olympia WA, Suzanne Sutton Baldwin (Kevin) of Wilmington IL, and Patricia Anne "Tricia" Sutton (Lee Semmerling) of Bensenville IL; grandchildren Christy Sutton, Nathan Ward (Sarah), Christopher Ward, Josiah Ward (Laura), Jeanne Baldwin Peck (Tony), and Sarah Baldwin Sanders (Jon); and great-grandchildren Arianna, Aryll, Aubrey, Charlie, Brady, Kathryn, Paislee, and Henry.

Ruth graduated from Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University in 1946 with a B.S. in Journalism, and worked in writing and editing all her life. She was on staff for the United Press Association, the American Medical Association (AMA), the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), and decades as freelance writer and journalist. She was a beat reporter for the Fox Lake Press and Waukegan News Sun. She wrote a feature column “Partly Ruth” in the Fox Lake Press for many years, as a follow up to her husband's popular column "Mostly Clarence." Ruth and Clarence ghost wrote a syndicated medical advice column, "Ask Dr. Andelman" and the 4-volume New Home Medical Encyclopedia for Dr. Samuel L. Andelman. They also owned Sutton Realty in Ingleside, Illinois.

She loved music, singing, and playing the piano, organ, and accordion. She once sang on the radio with Mel Torme. She and Clarence often played jazz together after dinner, she on piano and Clarence on clarinet or sax, with their children (and sometimes myriad pets) joining in. She was long-time accompanist at Ingleside Methodist Church.

She traveled to Cuba, Iceland, Europe, Canada and all around America. She was instrumental in establishing the College of Lake County. 

In retirement, Ruth and Clarence performed at the Bristol Renaissance Faire as "Mad Maude" and "Abdul Dabba Do, Mystic Man of Knots." While traveling, they had roles as the mother of the groom and father of the bride in one of the first-ever music videos, “Jeopardy” by the Greg Kihn Band (https://youtu.be/yAJNwPWVmNc).  Lighting was by their nephew Arthur Freyer

 After Clarence died, she stayed active writing, researching local history, as well as performing in a senior jug band. She was a founding member and longtime supporter of the Fox Lake-Grant Township Area Historical Society, serving as the society president for six years. She was honored for her service to the Society and the community in 2008.

A memorial visitation will be held Friday, February 11, from 10 a.m. until the time of memorial service at 10:30 a.m., at Hamsher Lakeside Funerals & Cremations, 12 N Pistakee Lake Rd., Fox Lake.  Following, Ruth's ashes will be interred at Grant Cemetery, Ingleside, IL.

Memorial donations are welcome at:

Fox Lake-Grant Township Historical Society (Fox Lake-Grant Township Area Historical Society | Facebook)

Paws 4 Kids 4 Paws (Donate - Paws 4 Kids 4 Paws)

Washington Families United (office@WashingtonFamiliesUnited.org)

She once wrote a note to herself saying: I am generously blessed with the love I feel for and receive from God, Christ, many friends and other people, as well as my family!

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Ruth Hannah (nee Hannah) Sutton, please visit our floral store.