Ruth Fearing Lister

Ruth Fearing Lister, beloved mother, Granny Ruth, sister, and a long-time resident of Hertford, NC, passed away Friday, September 18, 2015 in W.R. Winslow Memorial Home, Elizabeth City, at the age of 98. Ruth was born in the Weeksville community of Pasquotank County on June 5, 1917, and was the daughter of the late Marvin Wiles, Sr. and Bertha Belle Sawyer Lister. A homemaker, she later served as a Head Dorm Resident at Chowan University. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by four sisters, Doris Lister, Lina Belle Jennette, Mary Elizabeth Etheridge, and Frances D'Auteuil. Surviving her are a son, Donald E. Baker and wife Leslie of Cambridge, MD; two daughters, Mary Frances Baker of Cary and Angela B. Rose and husband Kim of Hertford; a sister, Janice Burge of Baton Rouge, LA; a brother, Marvin W. Lister, Jr. of Elizabeth City; six grandchildren, Renee Hunter (Gil), Don Baker, Jr. (Maya), Jamey Batts (Lisa), Wendy Stokes (Bob), Noel Rose, and Kate Williams (Ian); and five great-grandchildren, Benjamin, Mitchell, and Brenden Hunter, Maggie Stokes, and Wiles Claire Williams. Private services will be held with Miller & Van Essendelft, Funeral and Cremation Providers, 1125 Harvey Point Road, Hertford, handling arrangements. Friends may join the family at Angela and Kim's home, 208 N. Church Street, Hertford. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to any chapter of the American Diabetes Association or to the Perquimans County Rescue Squad, PO Box 563, Hertford, NC 27944. Online condolences may be made by visiting www.millerfhc.com.