Ruth Gale Hanson, age 96, of Cincinnati, formerly of Lake Ozark, died Wednesday, February 14, 2007, at Mercy Fairfield Hospital in Fairfield, Ohio. She was born in Benton, Illinois on August 27, 1910, a daughter of the late William Worthy and Carrie Stewart (Moore) Clayton. On November 11, 1939 she was married to Dr. Arthur Hanson, who preceded her in death in 1988.

Ruth graduated in 1930 from the Chicago Policlinic as a Graduate RN and served as an operating room nurse until she joined the Navy in 1938. She began a short career as a Navy nurse in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In 1939 Ruth and her husband moved to Chicago, IL where they lived for many years. During their time in Chicago Ruth worked tirelessly as a volunteer at the Presbyterian Hospital in Chicago. She received an award for more than 500 hours of dedicated service. Ruth's husband retired in 1968 and at that time they moved to Lake Ozark where they lived together until Dr. Hanson's death in 1988. She and her husband were both members of Bethany Lutheran Church in Eldon. In 2001 Ruth moved from Lake Ozark to Cincinnati, OH.

Those who survive her include: one brother, Ross Clayton of Eldon; one nephew, Jim Clayton of Decatur, Illinois; three nieces, Linda Spurgeon of Eldon, Mary Catherine Thelen of Miami, Florida and Ruth Phillips of Hamilton, Ohio; 13 great nieces and nephews and 24 great-great nieces and nephews.

One brother, Marion Clayton, also preceded her in death.

Visitation will be from 10-11 a.m. on Monday, February 19, with services immediately following at 11:00 a.m. at Rekus Funeral Home in Eldon. Pastor Pete Lange will officiate. Interment will be in Greenmore Memorial Gardens near Barnett.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are suggested to the Bethany Lutheran Church in Eldon.