Ruth Mileham Doane

Ruth Mileham Doane, 96, of South Haven passed away on Wednesday, July 23 at Countryside Nursing and Rehabilitation Community.

She was born May 19, 1912 in Casco Township, Michigan to Mary (Britton) and Roger Galbreath. Soon after, the family moved to the Fennville area. Ruth attended the Peach Belt School before going to the Fennville High School where she graduated in 1928.The next two years were spent at Western Michigan Teachers College. On December 20, 1930, Ruth married Arthur Mileham. After teaching for one year at the Reid School in Ganges Township, Ruth devoted her life to being a farmers wife. Along with dairy farming they raised strawberries that were picked in the early morning and taken to the Benton Harbor market in the afternoon. Cauliflower and cucumbers were the other crops that helped to round out the farm income. In 1947 they bought the restaurant in Glenn and named it the Korner Kitchen. There are a few who still call it that today. Ruth became well known for her home cooked meals, homemade pies and sweet rolls. Many a man spoiled his supper with that irresistible piece of pie at his afternoon coffee break. Many truck drivers stopped at the Korner Kitchen and was Ruth’s goal to feed dinner to them, complete with coffee and dessert, for the sum of one dollar. In 1960 changes in the highway resulted in closing the Korner Kitchen and reopening their business in a new building that was constructed in a field where the cauliflower once grew. The business named Willowside Inn, for the twin willow trees that graced the driveway of their farm home. The new business became very popular and prospered for several years. Due to Ruth’s husband’s ill health they sold Willowside in 1974 and Ruth then turned her talents to selling real estate. She worked for Joe Marfia in Fennville for several years. Ruth and Art enjoyed traveling and did so whenever they could. After Arts death Ruth continued to travel and visit family whenever she could. On New Year’s Day in 1986 Ruth married Harold Hammond. He died the following year. In January of 1996, Ruth was married to Horace Doane of Three Rivers, Michigan and spent the next several years living in Three Rivers and Tampa, Florida. Ruth was a member of the Three Rivers Order of the Eastern Star and a long time member of the Glenn United Methodist Church.

She is preceded in death along with her parents by three husbands – Arthur D. Mileham in 1978, Harold Hammond in 1987 and Horace Doane in 2003. Three sisters, two brother and three grandchildren.

She is survived by her children – Jeanne (Lauren) Hallgren of Glenn, Michigan and Shirley Pratt and Arthur Dale (Karen) Mileham both of South Haven, Michigan, Mary Ann (Gordon) Sindt of Three Rivers, Robert (Shirley) Doane of Millersburg, Indiana, Richard (Mary) Doane of Pinetop, Arizona and Mary Lou (Robert) Thiessen of Richland, Michigan. 27 grandchildren and 59 great grandchildren and 13great-great grandchildren along with many nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be from 1-2 on Saturday July 26 at the Glenn United Methodist Church. Funeral services will begin at 2:00 P.M. on Saturday at the church with Rev. Jean Smith officiating. Burial will take place at McDowell Cemetery. Memorial contributions can be made to the Glenn United Methodist Church. Kindly share your thoughts and memories on the family’s online guest book at www.FilbrandtFFH.com.
The family is being helped by the Filbrandt Family Funeral Home of South Haven 637-0333.