Evelyn R. "Ruth" (Hiltz) Wildman

Evelyn R. “Ruth” (Hiltz) Wildman of Needham died on Monday June 14, 2010 at Newton Wellesley Hospital. She was 81 years old.
Ruth was born in 1929 to Bill and Annie Hiltz while they were living on Cutter St in Somerville. At 6 months she went to Woods Harbor, Nova Scotia to live with her grandmother & grandfather Malone. She lived there with Gran & Papa and attended school there until she was 8 yrs old.
In 1937 she went back to live with her parents on Bonaire St. in Somerville but continued to spend her summers in Nova Scotia until she was married. She always remained close to her Canadian family and took her own family “down home” for summer vacations many times. When she was 16, she had her first job as a waitress at Hunts cafeteria in Coolidge corner. This was where she met her future husband Tom Wildman in 1946.
She and her girlhood friend Jean Sawdy also worked in the office at the Sears building in Boston doing clerical work.
Tom & Ruth got married May 22nd of 1948 and moved into a furnished apartment in Somerville and Gran Malone lived with them there. Ruth said “wherever I lived, Gran was with me.” Their son Harold was born in 1949.
They bought their house at 3 Park Place in Wellesley in August of 1951. Gran Malone, Tom Wildman senior and Tom’s brother Ernie and sister Alice moved in with them. Their daughter Roberta was born in 1952.
Tom & Ruth shared all their homes over the years with both sides of the family. Their house was always the gathering place for family birthdays, holidays and summer cookouts. Sunday afternoons was a time for visiting and sharing Sunday dinner. Ruth could always be counted on to throw an extra potato into the pot to accommodate an unexpected guest.
Around 1962 Ruth’s father suffered a stroke and was left partially paralyzed and unable to speak. He and Annie moved in to 3 Park Place with Tom & Ruth. (Ruth was working as a cashier at the A&P in Wellesley at the time.) She left the A&P and stayed home to take care of her father.
When Ruth’s father passed away in 1963, her mother stayed on at 3 Park Place. Both Gran Malone and Grammy Hiltz would live at 3 park place until they passed away. Gran Malone passed in 1971.
In 1973 Ruth went to work in the cafeteria at Sun Life financial. She held a number of positions in her 27 years there, and made many friends over the years. She retired in 2000.
Ruth’s husband Tom died suddenly in Sept of 1989 and his father, Tom Sr., died 3 weeks later that same year. Grammy Hiltz passed on in 1999. Ruth moved to Needham in 1998 and made a new home for herself and all of us there. 109 Nardone Rd. became the new gathering place for the holidays. Family life was the most important thing to Ruth. She was very proud of her own children and doubly so of her grandchildren. “Nanny“ never missed a soccer game or little league event and was always ready to throw a grilled cheese sandwich together for a hungry kid (or adult). She enjoyed crafts and was very talented at making latch-hook rugs and knitting. She enjoyed games of all kinds and made friends wherever she went. She will be missed by everyone who had the good luck to know her.
The Beloved wife of the late Thomas W. Wildman Jr., she was the loving mother of Harold E. Wildman of Ashland and Roberta A. Hannon and her husband Francis of Newton Upper Falls. Sister of William L. Hiltz of Bullhead City, AZ and the late Harold C. Hiltz. Dear grandmother of James and Scott Hannon, Gregg, Karla and Christopher Wildman and Great grandmother of Brian and Matthew Wildman. Funeral Services will be held at the Eaton Funeral Home 1351 Highland Ave. Needham on Friday June 18th at 11:00 AM. Relatives and friends are kindly invited. Visiting hours will be held on Thursday from 4-7 PM. Interment will take place at Needham Cemetery. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Make A wish Foundation, One Bulfinch Place,2nd Floor, Boston, Ma 02114 and to the Second Baptist Church

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