Ruth was born January 18, 1924 to her parents, Edwin Free and Antoinette in their home in Brooklyn, New York. She was raised in Stewart Manor in Long Island, NY and graduated from Sewanhaka High School. She became a clerk at the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company in New York City. She met Richard Leonard Mikolon in a Bible Study while he was attending the Kings Point Merchant Marine Academy. They married on January 11, 1944 after his graduation. They lived in a nearby post-war community called Levittown with their two young children, Richard Leonard, Jr. and Jayne Ruth. They became very active in the Hempstead Baptist Church as Sunday School teachers. They had many friends who we called aunts and uncles.
After moving to their dream home in Garden City, L.I. and after the birth of my sister Amy, Dad was transferred to New Jersey in 1960. Again, they both became active as teachers and leaders in the Hydewood Park Baptist Church in North Plainfield, N.J. My brothers Peter, Guy, and Brent were born in New Jersey. My father’s last assignment with Texaco Oil took them to Texas where they quickly got involved in a local church making lifelong friends. Retirement took them for one last move – this time to Winchester, Tennessee on a lake. Ruth’s brother, Ed and sister-in-law; sister, Toni and brother-in-law had homes there making for many wonderful extended family celebrations.
Along with her continued love for Jesus as her Savior expressed in faithful service to the church as teacher and youth counselor, Ruth had her own talk radio show called, “Ask Miss Ruthie.” She served as an aid to special needs children along with many other activities in Winchester.
In 2013 Mom agreed to move north to be closer to family. She gave up driving, but still got involved in a local Baptist church where she enjoyed Senior Lunch Groups and retreats. But most of all, Mom enjoyed watching her lovely Grandkids and Great Grandkids in their sports, plays, graduations and family celebrations. And we all enjoyed her. “Ruthie, you will be missed – Thank you for all your love.
Ruth was preceded in death by her husband Richard and son Richard, Jr. her mother Antoinette and father Edwin Free, Sr. brother Edwin Free, Jr. and wife Kay; sister Toni and husband Colonel John Hill and granddaughter Melissa Jayne Bischoff.
Ruth leaves daughter Jayne Bischoff (Paul), daughter Amy Hendrick, son Peter Mikolon (Nancy), son Guy Mikolon (Charlotte); son Brent Mikolon (Julie) and grandchildren Paul Bischoff, Jr. (Elizabeth0, Megan Blum (Michael), Melanie Smith (Matt); Erick Schmidt (Marcie); Philip Mikolon (Veronica); Matilda Mikolon, Samantha Tinkerhoff, Christopher Valentine, Grae Mikolon and Bailey Mikolon. She leaves the following Great Grandchildren, Faith Bischoff, Paul W. Bischoff, Noah Bischoff and Mary Rose Bischoff; Alex Blum, Trevor Blum, Ethan Blum, and Phoebe Blum; and Matilda Smith and Korbyn Schmidt along with many beloved nieces and nephews.
A Graveside service will be held on Wednesday, August, 28, 2024, at Watson Memorial Park at 11:00 AM. 405 Sharp Springs Road Winchester, Tennessee 37398.
A separate Memorial Service will be held at 11AM on Saturday, October 26, 2024 at the Glen Ellyn Evangelical Covenant Church located on the corner of Kenilworth and Hawthorne Avenues, Glen Ellyn, Illinois.
