Knoxville News Sentinel (TN) December 17, 2000
WHITMORE, RUTH ENGLAND - 89 of Maryvillle passed away Fri. afternoon, Dec. 15, 2000 at Asbury Acres Health Care Center. Member of Fairvew United Methodist Church. Preceded in death by husband, Grady C. Whitmore; daughter, Yvonne Whitmore; parents, Dave & Zadie Hickey England; brothers, Dennis England, Lakes England, Birch England. Survivors: daughter, Leola Garland of Jonesborough, Tenn.; sons & daughters in law, Edward & Alva Whitmore of Lenoir City, Xeno & Opal Whitmore of Knoxville, David & Joanna Whitmore of Maryville; son, Glenn Whitmore of Maryville; 9 grandchildren; 15 great grandchildren; 5 great-great grandchildren; sister, Bessie Garrett Ridge of Maryville; several nieces & nephews. Funeral service 8 p.m. Sun. Dec. 17, 2000 Miller Funeral Home Chapel, Rev. George Trent officiating. Interment 10 a.m. Mon. at Carpenters Methodist Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6-8 p.m. Sun. at Miller Funeral Home, Maryville.
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Family's poverty is an example of learning to get by
Ruth Whitmore leaves no doubt as to her politics.
"My daddy (David England) was a Democrat. My mama's family was all Republicans, but Mama had sense enough to go Democrat when she married that fine looking young man," Whitmore laughed. Whitmore herself can best be described as "yellow-dog Democrat," who would vote for a yellow dog sooner than she would vote for a Republican.
Whitmore is a staunch supporter of President Bill Clinton. "I wrote the president a letter," she said as she held an autographed photograph of Clinton, "and I told him what a hard time I'd had all my life until he got in as president. Now I have money in my pockets to jingle, something that I'd never had before and that's the truth."
Whitmore is almost 88 years old and was well-acquainted with poverty growing up, first in Polk County, then in Blount County.
"My father was sick," Whitmore recalled, "and Mama had to take in washing even though she wasn't able to." Whitmore, as the oldest of five children, became responsible for the running of the household so her mother could earn money for the family. At the age of 10, Whitmore could tend the other children, cook, clean and make a garden as well as an adult.
Whitmore also contributed financially. "I would hire out to people who had babies and didn't have anybody to work," she said. "I made $3 a week." At the age of 9, she stayed with a family who had two small children, a newborn baby and a mother still in bed from childbirth. "I stayed with them two weeks, and I sure was proud to go home!"
Whitmore's father was a logger, and when he could work, he made good money. "But Papa had tuberculosis and couldn't work much," she said. "But of one of us had a nickel, then we all had a nickel." At that time, the family of seven lived in a small hut in Turtletown in Polk County.
"We were poor, but we went to Sunday school barefooted as long as we could walk. Winter clothes, summer clothes were all the same, we just had what we had. Mama kept us clean. Part of the time she had soap, part of the time she'd take sand _ where we lived there was white sand _ and she'd put it where the dirty places were and rub to get us clean. When you're poor, you learn how to do."
As an adult, Whitmore was still "learning to do." Lack of finances broke up her first marriage and later almost prevented her second marriage, this time to the love of her life, Grady Whitmore. They were married for 63 years. "It was hard, but we finally made it," Whitmore said.
Regardless of our political views, we can all agree with Ruth Whitmore's observation. "Poverty will make somebody out of you," she said, then quickly added, "But I'd advise you not to try it!"
WHITMORE, RUTH ENGLAND - 89 of Maryvillle passed away Fri. afternoon, Dec. 15, 2000 at Asbury Acres Health Care Center. Member of Fairvew United Methodist Church. Preceded in death by husband, Grady C. Whitmore; daughter, Yvonne Whitmore; parents, Dave & Zadie Hickey England; brothers, Dennis England, Lakes England, Birch England. Survivors: daughter, Leola Garland of Jonesborough, Tenn.; sons & daughters in law, Edward & Alva Whitmore of Lenoir City, Xeno & Opal Whitmore of Knoxville, David & Joanna Whitmore of Maryville; son, Glenn Whitmore of Maryville; 9 grandchildren; 15 great grandchildren; 5 great-great grandchildren; sister, Bessie Garrett Ridge of Maryville; several nieces & nephews. Funeral service 8 p.m. Sun. Dec. 17, 2000 Miller Funeral Home Chapel, Rev. George Trent officiating. Interment 10 a.m. Mon. at Carpenters Methodist Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6-8 p.m. Sun. at Miller Funeral Home, Maryville.
=============
Family's poverty is an example of learning to get by
Ruth Whitmore leaves no doubt as to her politics.
"My daddy (David England) was a Democrat. My mama's family was all Republicans, but Mama had sense enough to go Democrat when she married that fine looking young man," Whitmore laughed. Whitmore herself can best be described as "yellow-dog Democrat," who would vote for a yellow dog sooner than she would vote for a Republican.
Whitmore is a staunch supporter of President Bill Clinton. "I wrote the president a letter," she said as she held an autographed photograph of Clinton, "and I told him what a hard time I'd had all my life until he got in as president. Now I have money in my pockets to jingle, something that I'd never had before and that's the truth."
Whitmore is almost 88 years old and was well-acquainted with poverty growing up, first in Polk County, then in Blount County.
"My father was sick," Whitmore recalled, "and Mama had to take in washing even though she wasn't able to." Whitmore, as the oldest of five children, became responsible for the running of the household so her mother could earn money for the family. At the age of 10, Whitmore could tend the other children, cook, clean and make a garden as well as an adult.
Whitmore also contributed financially. "I would hire out to people who had babies and didn't have anybody to work," she said. "I made $3 a week." At the age of 9, she stayed with a family who had two small children, a newborn baby and a mother still in bed from childbirth. "I stayed with them two weeks, and I sure was proud to go home!"
Whitmore's father was a logger, and when he could work, he made good money. "But Papa had tuberculosis and couldn't work much," she said. "But of one of us had a nickel, then we all had a nickel." At that time, the family of seven lived in a small hut in Turtletown in Polk County.
"We were poor, but we went to Sunday school barefooted as long as we could walk. Winter clothes, summer clothes were all the same, we just had what we had. Mama kept us clean. Part of the time she had soap, part of the time she'd take sand _ where we lived there was white sand _ and she'd put it where the dirty places were and rub to get us clean. When you're poor, you learn how to do."
As an adult, Whitmore was still "learning to do." Lack of finances broke up her first marriage and later almost prevented her second marriage, this time to the love of her life, Grady Whitmore. They were married for 63 years. "It was hard, but we finally made it," Whitmore said.
Regardless of our political views, we can all agree with Ruth Whitmore's observation. "Poverty will make somebody out of you," she said, then quickly added, "But I'd advise you not to try it!"
Knoxville News Sentinel (TN) December 17, 2000
WHITMORE, RUTH ENGLAND - 89 of Maryvillle passed away Fri. afternoon, Dec. 15, 2000 at Asbury Acres Health Care Center. Member of Fairvew United Methodist Church. Preceded in death by husband, Grady C. Whitmore; daughter, Yvonne Whitmore; parents, Dave & Zadie Hickey England; brothers, Dennis England, Lakes England, Birch England. Survivors: daughter, Leola Garland of Jonesborough, Tenn.; sons & daughters in law, Edward & Alva Whitmore of Lenoir City, Xeno & Opal Whitmore of Knoxville, David & Joanna Whitmore of Maryville; son, Glenn Whitmore of Maryville; 9 grandchildren; 15 great grandchildren; 5 great-great grandchildren; sister, Bessie Garrett Ridge of Maryville; several nieces & nephews. Funeral service 8 p.m. Sun. Dec. 17, 2000 Miller Funeral Home Chapel, Rev. George Trent officiating. Interment 10 a.m. Mon. at Carpenters Methodist Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6-8 p.m. Sun. at Miller Funeral Home, Maryville.
=============
Family's poverty is an example of learning to get by
Ruth Whitmore leaves no doubt as to her politics.
"My daddy (David England) was a Democrat. My mama's family was all Republicans, but Mama had sense enough to go Democrat when she married that fine looking young man," Whitmore laughed. Whitmore herself can best be described as "yellow-dog Democrat," who would vote for a yellow dog sooner than she would vote for a Republican.
Whitmore is a staunch supporter of President Bill Clinton. "I wrote the president a letter," she said as she held an autographed photograph of Clinton, "and I told him what a hard time I'd had all my life until he got in as president. Now I have money in my pockets to jingle, something that I'd never had before and that's the truth."
Whitmore is almost 88 years old and was well-acquainted with poverty growing up, first in Polk County, then in Blount County.
"My father was sick," Whitmore recalled, "and Mama had to take in washing even though she wasn't able to." Whitmore, as the oldest of five children, became responsible for the running of the household so her mother could earn money for the family. At the age of 10, Whitmore could tend the other children, cook, clean and make a garden as well as an adult.
Whitmore also contributed financially. "I would hire out to people who had babies and didn't have anybody to work," she said. "I made $3 a week." At the age of 9, she stayed with a family who had two small children, a newborn baby and a mother still in bed from childbirth. "I stayed with them two weeks, and I sure was proud to go home!"
Whitmore's father was a logger, and when he could work, he made good money. "But Papa had tuberculosis and couldn't work much," she said. "But of one of us had a nickel, then we all had a nickel." At that time, the family of seven lived in a small hut in Turtletown in Polk County.
"We were poor, but we went to Sunday school barefooted as long as we could walk. Winter clothes, summer clothes were all the same, we just had what we had. Mama kept us clean. Part of the time she had soap, part of the time she'd take sand _ where we lived there was white sand _ and she'd put it where the dirty places were and rub to get us clean. When you're poor, you learn how to do."
As an adult, Whitmore was still "learning to do." Lack of finances broke up her first marriage and later almost prevented her second marriage, this time to the love of her life, Grady Whitmore. They were married for 63 years. "It was hard, but we finally made it," Whitmore said.
Regardless of our political views, we can all agree with Ruth Whitmore's observation. "Poverty will make somebody out of you," she said, then quickly added, "But I'd advise you not to try it!"
WHITMORE, RUTH ENGLAND - 89 of Maryvillle passed away Fri. afternoon, Dec. 15, 2000 at Asbury Acres Health Care Center. Member of Fairvew United Methodist Church. Preceded in death by husband, Grady C. Whitmore; daughter, Yvonne Whitmore; parents, Dave & Zadie Hickey England; brothers, Dennis England, Lakes England, Birch England. Survivors: daughter, Leola Garland of Jonesborough, Tenn.; sons & daughters in law, Edward & Alva Whitmore of Lenoir City, Xeno & Opal Whitmore of Knoxville, David & Joanna Whitmore of Maryville; son, Glenn Whitmore of Maryville; 9 grandchildren; 15 great grandchildren; 5 great-great grandchildren; sister, Bessie Garrett Ridge of Maryville; several nieces & nephews. Funeral service 8 p.m. Sun. Dec. 17, 2000 Miller Funeral Home Chapel, Rev. George Trent officiating. Interment 10 a.m. Mon. at Carpenters Methodist Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6-8 p.m. Sun. at Miller Funeral Home, Maryville.
=============
Family's poverty is an example of learning to get by
Ruth Whitmore leaves no doubt as to her politics.
"My daddy (David England) was a Democrat. My mama's family was all Republicans, but Mama had sense enough to go Democrat when she married that fine looking young man," Whitmore laughed. Whitmore herself can best be described as "yellow-dog Democrat," who would vote for a yellow dog sooner than she would vote for a Republican.
Whitmore is a staunch supporter of President Bill Clinton. "I wrote the president a letter," she said as she held an autographed photograph of Clinton, "and I told him what a hard time I'd had all my life until he got in as president. Now I have money in my pockets to jingle, something that I'd never had before and that's the truth."
Whitmore is almost 88 years old and was well-acquainted with poverty growing up, first in Polk County, then in Blount County.
"My father was sick," Whitmore recalled, "and Mama had to take in washing even though she wasn't able to." Whitmore, as the oldest of five children, became responsible for the running of the household so her mother could earn money for the family. At the age of 10, Whitmore could tend the other children, cook, clean and make a garden as well as an adult.
Whitmore also contributed financially. "I would hire out to people who had babies and didn't have anybody to work," she said. "I made $3 a week." At the age of 9, she stayed with a family who had two small children, a newborn baby and a mother still in bed from childbirth. "I stayed with them two weeks, and I sure was proud to go home!"
Whitmore's father was a logger, and when he could work, he made good money. "But Papa had tuberculosis and couldn't work much," she said. "But of one of us had a nickel, then we all had a nickel." At that time, the family of seven lived in a small hut in Turtletown in Polk County.
"We were poor, but we went to Sunday school barefooted as long as we could walk. Winter clothes, summer clothes were all the same, we just had what we had. Mama kept us clean. Part of the time she had soap, part of the time she'd take sand _ where we lived there was white sand _ and she'd put it where the dirty places were and rub to get us clean. When you're poor, you learn how to do."
As an adult, Whitmore was still "learning to do." Lack of finances broke up her first marriage and later almost prevented her second marriage, this time to the love of her life, Grady Whitmore. They were married for 63 years. "It was hard, but we finally made it," Whitmore said.
Regardless of our political views, we can all agree with Ruth Whitmore's observation. "Poverty will make somebody out of you," she said, then quickly added, "But I'd advise you not to try it!"
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