Ruth Helen Bohling Hastings Ruth was a loving and devoted wife and mother. Her Christian faith came early in life through the witness of her mother and father. Ruth was born July 12, 1922, in Kansas City, Missouri, to Arthur and Helen Bohling. She graduated from high school in Kansas City and attended college at Bob Jones University, where she and Ernest met. They were married August 29, 1944, while Ernest was attending theological school in Philadelphia. After his graduation they started a new church in New Jersey, while he was assistant pastor of First Baptist Church, Asbury Park. Ernest and Ruth were life time partners in pastoring three American Baptist Churches; Oakland, CA, Los Angeles, CA and Everett, WA. Ruth had a fine alto voice, developed in college as a member of choir. This talent she used in all three churches plus playing the piano and pipe organ. She was an outstanding teacher of young married couples, also in her role as a pastor's wife she was an inspiration to other young pastors' wives. Ruth and Ernest had two children, David and Diane. For them she provided a loving and secure family life and a Christian role model through each stage of their development. She was the heartbeat of the family. A neat home keeper, excellent cook and baker of fresh bread and cookies, she made the home a retreat for her family. She and her husband were able to visit over 55 countries in their travels. On a few of these trips she served as crafts director on a cruise ship. Ruth was preceded in death by her parents; her sister, Nadine Meckel; and son, David. She is survived by her husband; her sister, Joyce Clark; daughter, Diane Turnidge (Daniel); three grandchildren, Ryan (Miranda) Hastings, Jennifer Turnidge and Jason Turnidge; and two great-grandchildren, Isabella and Liam Hastings. Ruth's life will be celebrated at 2:30 p.m., Saturday, May 19, 2007, at Penney Memorial Church, Penney Farms, FL. A second service will be held at 1 p.m., Saturday, June 30, 2007, at the First Baptist Church, Everett, WA. The burial service will take place in Berlin, MD, in the month of July. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to your own church's mission program. Cremation arrangements are under the care of Broadus-Raines Funeral Home, 501 Springs Street, Green Cove Springs, FL. 904-284-4000. Published in The Herald (Everett) on 5/15/2007.