Death of Ruthann Huling Hall
Death of Ruthann Huling Hall
Ruthann Huling Hall
June 6, 1952 – April 12, 2012
Global Ministries is saddened to learn of the death of Ruthann Huling Hall, former Global Ministries long-term volunteer to South Africa. Ruthann, 59, of Devenwood Way, Massachusetts, passed away peacefully in her residence after a lengthy illness on Thursday, April 12, 2012. She is survived by her loving husband of nearly forty years, Jan Tore Hall; her parents, Ruth and Clarence Huling of Lansdale, PA; her sister, Sally Hilderbrand of Collegeville, PA; brother, Stephen Huling and wife Ruth Campbell of Convent Station, NJ; nieces, Elin Hilderbrand of Nantucket, Alice Huling of NY; nephews, Eric Hilderbrand of CT; Douglas Hilderbrand of VA; and many dear friends.
Ruthann was born in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, attended local schools in Collegeville and was a graduate of the Perkiomen Valley High School Class of 1970. She obtained her B.A, magna cum laude, in Mathematics from Duke University in 1973. Ruthann began her career in the insurance industry, studied for and obtained ASA and later FSA designations, and became an Actuary with concentration in pension plan investment products, ultimately retiring early from John Hancock Mutual Life in 1998.
Since 2000, Ruthann and her husband Jan served as missionary volunteers through Global Ministries and the Massachusetts Conference of the United Church of Christ (UCC), serving with the United Congregational Church of Southern Africa (UCCSA), sister denomination in South Africa. Their efforts facilitated direct relationships between numerous individual local church congregations of the UCCSA in South Africa and the UCC in Massachusetts. Ruthann’s work in support of the Mission Council of the UCCSA KwaZulu-Natal Region to enhance local church community outreach led to Ruthann’s steadfast efforts to assist Florence Madlala, who has established the Lamontville Thembalethu Care Centre, serving many suffering from, and affected by, disease and poverty in that township of Durban. Ruthann was a devoted member of the Trinitarian Congregational Church in Concord and was a friend of the United Church of Clinton. She held a great passion for music and was an avid gardener and birdwatcher.
In lieu of flowers or other tokens, the family makes a heartfelt request for memorial contributions to be made in Ruthann’s honor to the Trinitarian Congregational Church, 54 Walden St., Concord, MA 01742, designated for the benefit of Lamontville Thembalethu Care Centre, Durban, South Africa.
A Service of Worship and Witness in Ruthann’s memory will be held on June 10, 2012 at Trinitarian Congregational Church in Concord, MA; and a more family oriented gathering with her parents (who are in their mid-90’s) at their retirement community in Pennsylvania on June 24. Later in the year, her ashes will be taken to Durban, South Africa.
Messages of sympathy may be sent Ruthann’s husband, Jan Tore Hall, at 640 Devenwood Way, Clinton, MA 01510.