Ruth Fizzell

Ruth Wood was the third child of Alfred Benjamin Wood and his wife Clara Mae Skaggs Wood. She was born in November of 1899 while the family was living in Pitman, Montgomery County, Illinois. In the 1900 U.S. Federal Census for Pitman, the family was listed as follows: Alfred B. Wood, 30, Clara M., 26, Lorin A., 7, Morris C., 5 and Ruth, 7 months old. Also living in the home was Nellie E. Wood, the 24-year old sister of Alfred. Alfred and Clara had been married for 8 years, and he was working as a laborer for the railroad. Alfred's sister, Nellie, was working as a milliner (a maker of hats).

By the 1910 census, another daughter had been born, Laura A., and they were listed in the Pitman census as follows: Alfred B., 40, Clara M., 36, Lorin A., 17, Morris C., 15, Ruth, 10, and Laura A., 4 years old. Alfred was working as a farmer and his two sons, Lorin and Morris were working as farm laborers on the home farm, which Alfred was renting.

In 1920 Ruth had married John Joseph Fizzell and they were living in a rented home located in Litchfield, Montgomery County, Illinois, at 426 North Madison Street. John, 24, Ruth, 20, and a "guest" George Bridgewater, 5 years old. John was working as a salesman in a hardware store.

By 1930, John, 31, and Ruth, 30, were living at 1802 N. Jackson Street in Litchfield with their 10 year old son, Joe J., and John was still working as a salesman in a hardware store.

In 1940 they were still living in Litchfield at a home located at 418 North Madison Street, which they owned that was valued at $2,000. John, 42, and Ruth, 40, had a lodger living in their home, Wesley Doolin, 42, and John was still working as a merchant in a retail hardware store. Wesley was working as the deputy sheriff of Montgomery County.

John served in World War II in the Air Force. He passed away in 2005, but I'm not sure when John Joseph Fizzell or Ruth Wood Fizzell passed away. Following is their son's obituary:

Joe Fizzell, 85, of Litchfield, Illinois, died December 30, 2005. He was born March 25, 1920, in Litchfield, attended Litchfield Schools and graduated in 1938. He married Mary Frances Cloyd in 1941. He entered military service in July of 1942. He was an educator for more than 40 years. During his earlier years of teaching his family moved to Marianna, where he was the band instructor for 10 years. In 1958, he received the degree of Master of Arts in Education, from Florida State University. In 1959, he returned to Litchfield to teach until he retired at the end of the 1983 school year.

Survivors include his daughters, Nancy A. Pugh and husband Daniel of St. Louis, Missouri, Mary Linda Dickson and husband Jim of Litchfield and Gwen Ruth LaPoint of Sacramento, California; three grandchildren and two great-granddaughters. A funeral service will be held Wednesday, January 4, at 10 a.m., in St. Timothy United Methodist Church in Litchfield. Visitation will be held today, Tuesday, January 3, from 4 to 8 p.m., in Plummer Funeral Home in Litchfield. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Timothy United Methodist Church in Litchfield, Illinois.