Ruth (Hine) Darling

Leavenworth, WA

Ruth (Hine) Darling, 100, a longtime resident of Leavenworth, WA, died Sunday morning, November 18, 2012, at her home. She was born December 28, 1911, in Seattle to Homer Henry Hine and Rose B. (Turner) Hine. She grew up in Seattle, graduating from Saint Nicholas School in 1930, continuing her education at Scripps College in Claremont, CA and graduated from the University of Washington in 1934 with a degree in English Literature. She then moved to Leavenworth in 1935, to teach French and English at Leavenworth High School. On December 28, 1938, she married Thomas K. Darling, descendant of the Darling/Albright family, who homesteaded in the Chumstick Valley in the 1880's. Tom and Ruth built their home on Cascade Street, where they raised their four children, Ann Lynn (Bob), Ellen Benson (John), John Darling (June) and Bruce Darling (Dawn). Ruth was actively involved in school and community organizations, including Library Board, Red Cross, March of Dimes, Zetetic Book Club, Art in the Park and Cascade Street Mending Club. She volunteered in all Leavenworth schools and for the passage of school bonds and building new schools. In the 1960's, she returned to teaching as a substitute at Leavenworth High School. She was an avid fisherwoman, hiker, naturalist, bridge player, reader, and traveler. When her children were at home, the family enjoyed summers at their cabin on Lake Wenatchee. When Tom retired, the two toured the United States in their motor home and traveled the world by land and sea.

Survivors include her children, Ann Lynn (Bob), Ellen Benson (John), John Darling (June) and Bruce Darling (Dawn); nine grandchildren, Jeff, Karen, Suellen, Tom, Sam, Hoby, Sam, Marissa and Lexie; and eight great-grandchildren, Erica, Chloe, Tim, Sam, Sierra Ruth, McKinsey, Sophia and Anna Ellen; and five nieces and nephews, Mike, Molly, Ted, Greg and Henry. She also leaves her friends and caregivers, Scottie and Dick King, who made it possible for her to stay in her home. She was preceded in death by her husband, Tom, on July 24, 1990; and her brother, Kirt Hine.

A Celebration of Ruth's Life will be held at the Leavenworth Community United Methodist Church in Leavenworth on Saturday, November 24, 2012, at 3:00 p.m., with Visitation at Ward's Funeral Chapel on Friday evening, November 23, 2012, from 3:00 to 7:00 p.m. The family requests that those wishing to make a memorial donation in Ruth's memory consider The Cascade Education Foundation; the Upper Valley Historical Society; or the Leavenworth Library. Ward's Funeral Chapel, Leavenworth, is in charge of the arrangements