Hastings, Ruth M. Ruth M. Hastings passed away Thursday, March 15, 2007 at Fountain View Retirement Village in Grant at the age of 101. Ruth was born on October 8, 1905 in Bangor, Michigan. Ruth graduated from Adrian High School in 1923 as valedictorian of the class and attended Adrian College where she graduated in 1927 with a Bachelors of Arts Degree. She also attended the University Of Michigan where she received her Masters Degree in French in 1929. She married George D. Hastings on July 21, 1950, who preceded her in death on February 20, 2001. She taught approximately 30 years at Muskegon Heights High School and Muskegon Junior High School. She left Muskegon Heights in 1961 and taught at Fort Smith Junior College in Arkansas for 4 years in the fields of French and Spanish and returned to Michigan where she lived in Fremont and Grant for the past 31 years. Ruth had many interests and hobbies. She worked at the Fremont Times Indicator where she was a feature writer. She was very active in alumni activities at Adrian College and was inducted into the Adrian College Sports Hall of Fame in 1985. She was also a member of the N.R.T.A., M.A.R.S.P., the Grange on both the local and national level, the Newaygo Historical and Genealogical Society, A.A.U.W., the Garden Club of Muskegon, and a life member of the Eastern Star. She belonged to the Fremont United Methodist Church and was a member of the Womens Society of the Church. Ruth is survived by her daughter Kathryn Katy Kile (Alan) Bryant of Bay City; 3 grandsons, Jeffrey (Lynne) Bryant of Rockford, Todd Bryant of Sherman Oaks, California, and Andrew Bryant (fianc Myra Bagley) of Boyne City; 3 great-grandchildren, Bailey Lynne, Carley Kathryn, and Nolan Jeffrey of Rockford; stepson, Stuart (Roberta) Hastings of Burton; step daughter-in-law, Jean Hastings; 9 step grandchildren; 5 step great grandchildren; sister-in-law, Phyllis Hostetler of Muskegon; many special nieces and nephews and many wonderful friends at Fountain View Retirement Village in Grant. She was preceded by her husband George; her parents Edith and Elmer Hostetler; brothers, Donald, Paul, Robert, and Dale Hostetler; sister, Odeyne Reppert; brothers-in-law Guy Reppert and Grant Hastings; sisters-in-law Opal Hastings and Lola Hostetler; step daughter, Clare OBrien; step son, Donald Hastings Sr.; and step grandson, Donald Hastings Jr. Funeral services were held on Tuesday March 20, 2007 from the Crandell Funeral home Chapel Fremont-Chapel with Chaplain Judy Corey of Hospice of Michigan presiding. Private interment services will be held in Southern Cemetery in Central Lake, Michigan on the family plot that is marked by a monument designed by Michael Hastings. For anyone who wishes to make a contribution, please consider the Adrian College Scholarship Fund, The Fremont United Methodist Church Endowment Fund through the Fremont Area Community Foundation, The Bay County Womens Center in Bay City, or Hospice of Michigan. Friends may also send a condolence or share a memory with the Hastings Family online at www.crandellfh.com. Arrangements by Crandell Funeral Home Fremont Chapel. Click here to post a condolence or memory of Ruth on-line Ruth and George were very active members of the Fremont UMC. We recall George's "magic". Ruth was always with him. Ruth and I often talked about our relatives in Schuyler and McDonough Counties, IL and various places in those areas. I have missed those conversations which brought back so many memories. We know you have your memories of Ruth, too. With sympathy, Arnold and Mildred Woodring Ruth Hastings was my Spanish teacher at MHHS from 1949to 1951. She made a difference in my life. After I was graduated I went to Hope College where I majored in Spanish and minored in English and Social Studies. Because of her influence, and that of my college prof, I spent the summer of 1953 in Spain. I was graduated from Hope in 1955, married that August, and began teaching at the junior high in September. After about a month, when Ruth became illl, I was shifted to MHHS to cover her Spanish class that semester. How strange to be back in the classroom where it all had started under her instruction. In every life there is a special person who makes a difference. Ruth was one of those special people to me. Thank you for sharing this wonderful person with me and so many others. My sympathy to you. Sincerely, Avis (South) Boelkins I studied Spanish and French from Ruth Hastings at MHHS (1955-1959). She was a grand lady and very instrumental in my education. I went on to be a Spanish and French teacher myself after studying at MSU. I lost touch with her when they moved to Arkansas. I didn't know that they had returned to Michigan. It is quite a coincidence that I was just thinking of her the other day and wondering if she were still with us. My deepest sympathy to her family. Bruce McFarren, Ludington, MI Posted 3/26/07