Ruth Louise Hegler

Ruth Louise Rhymer Hegler, 94, of Valrico, Florida passed away on Friday, December 4, 2015 peacefully with her 3 daughters by her side. The family takes comfort in knowing she is with the Lord and reunited with loving family members. She was born March 8, 1921. She was preceded in death by her father and mother, Carl Lee and Dora Turbyfill Rhymer, sister Julia Rhymer Payne and her brother Carl Lee Rhymer, Jr. She graduated from Emma High School, Asheville, NC and attended Columbia Bible College, Columbia SC. She attended Idlewild Baptist Church, Tampa, FL. She retired from Kmart, Tampa, FL in 1986 and from Hancock Fabrics, Tampa, FL in 1994. Baseball has lost one of its biggest fans; she enjoyed nothing more than watching baseball on TV all day long. She was a devoted mother, grandmother and great-grandmother and is survived by her daughters, Rita Ann Shaw (Edward), Mary Ellyn Martinez (Louis Sr) and Carol Sue Wischnack (Brian). She had 5 grandchildren: Louis Martinez, Jr. (Hayley) of Tampa, FL; Erin Shaw of Xenia, Ohio; Lesley Shaw Bowser (Jonathan) of Riverview; John Shaw of Valrico, FL and Amber Wischnack of Tampa, FL. She is also survived by 3 great-grandchildren: Trey and Gabriella Martinez of Tampa, FL and Declan Jonathan Bowser of Riverview, FL. The family would like to thank Patty's House ALF for taking such wonderful care of their mother. Ms. Patty and all of her caregivers are exceptional individuals and truly believe in making the elderly's end of life time the best time of their life. The family would also like to thank the Blue Team Nurses at Melech Hospice House. In honor of Ruth's memory, the family requests donations be made to LifePath Hospice, 11125 N. 52nd Street, Temple Terrace, FL 33617. Graveside funeral services will be held Saturday, December 19, 2015 at 11:30 a.m. at Smith Cemetery off of Eliada Rd., Asheville, NC. Groce Funeral Home on Patton Ave. is assisting the family.