Ruth Quitera Weatherford, 79, formerly of Cape Coral, Florida, died on Sunday, June 1, 2008 at the Carle Arbours Nursing Home, Savoy, IL. Death was due to lung cancer.

Graveside Services celebrating her life will be held at 11:00 A.M., Saturday, June 7, 2008 at the Bourbon Cemetery, Bourbon, IL. Hilligoss Shrader Funeral Home, 705 South Main Street, Tuscola, IL, has been entrusted with the arrangements.

She was born on October 31, 1928 in Sullivan, IL, the third child and first daughter of Raymond "Jake" and Quitera "Teddy" (Harrington) Waters. She married Ralph Franklin Weatherford on January 14, 1946. They divorced in September of 1969, but remained good friends. He died on March 23, 1980.

She is survived by sons: Parke Anthony (Susan) Weatherford of Tuscola, IL and Ralph Edward (Vicki) Weatherford, plus daughter Susan Quitera Weatherford of Las Vegas, NV. She is also survived by sisters, Redith "Peggy" Webber ( Don Roderick) of Champaign, IL, Joan Runyan of Tavares, FL, Mary Waters of Urbana, IL, Marilyn "Toppy" Mooday of Tuscola, IL, 11 Grandchildren and 2 Great-Grandchildren. Her parents and three brothers, Robert Wendell "Bob" Waters, James Paul "Jim" Waters and Raymond Dean Waters, preceded her in death.

Starting as a part time telephone operator, Ruth rose through the ranks to Group Manager before retiring from Illinois Bell Telephone Company in 1984. In 1985, she moved to Cape Coral where she lived for over 21 years. While there, she worked part time for several years in the office of Dr. Alfred Bares, a local Chiropractor. For a number of years, she was very active in the Pioneers Club, which is comprised of retired members of Illinois Bell, which became AT&T.

Ruth's fondest memory of the telephone company was the reunion of telephone operators at their annual luncheon, the most recent being the one held at Dave's BBQ in Champaign in 2007, which she attended. She was able to meet and visit with fellow coworkers that she had not seen in over 20 years.

Ruth loved music, especially singing with her singing with her sisters and brothers while their mother played the piano in their early years. She also learned to play the piano and sang in her natural lead quality voice while playing her own piano. She joined several bridge clubs in Florida, and she was also an avid reader. She was a member of the Moose and Elk Clubs in Cape Coral.

After the passing of her parents, Ruth assumed the role of Matriarch of the Waters family. She will be sorely missed by her children, siblings and other family members and friends.

Donations in lieu of flowers may be sent to the American Cancer Society, 2509 South Neil Street, Champaign, IL 61820

Condolences to the family may be sent to hilligossshraderfh.com