Obituary
Ruth Ellen West Weistart, 81, died on October 17, 2024 at Duke Regional Hospital with her eldest daughter, Lisa, by her side. She was born on March 22, 1943 in Kankakee, Illinois to Everett R. E. West and Marjory West. Despite first meeting her father, Ernie, almost two years after her birth due to his World War II service, Ruthie/Ruth Ellen (as only her parents and those closest to her would occasionally call her) grew up surrounded by multi generations of her family and friends in Kankakee and Danville, Illinois. After eventually relocating with her parents to Chicago Heights, where she attended Homewood-Flossmoor High School, Ruth went on to graduate from Illinois Wesleyan University. After college, she married and moved to Durham, North Carolina, where she resided for over fifty years. While putting down roots in Durham, Ruth earned her real estate license and worked at Allenton Realty before ultimately leaving her career to focus on raising her daughters. Eventually, Ruth turned her personal love of needlepoint and other handicrafts into a successful wholesale business, Decorations, which she owned for almost 40 years. Her talents as an artist and master stitcher found acclaim throughout the world, including being displayed on one of the White House Christmas Trees in 1997. A proud member of The National Needlearts Association, Ruth’s stunning designs grace countless homes, businesses and holiday celebrations to this day. While her stitching skills may not have caught on with her daughters, her exceptional talents as a home cook live on through them, as well as her love of family, friends and her dogs: Dolly, Boomer, Casey and Abby.
Ruth was preceded in death by her daughter, Whitney Leigh Weistart, and is survived by her daughter, Lisa Christine Weistart.
On a future date, Ruth will be buried next to her parents at Stearns Cemetery in Fithian, Illinois.
The family wishes to thank the Robersons (Fred, Connie, Ed and Kristen) for their unwavering love and support of Ruth throughout her life. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Duke HomeCare and Hospice (Bereavement Support) or to the Alzheimer’s Association.
