Ruth "Tootie" Flint

Ruth A. Giles married Tom Flint 58 years ago, becoming Ruth Giles Flint: Mom. Many friends and family only called her Tootie, a lifelong nickname. Ruth was baptized a Catholic and has been a faithful servant of God her entire life. She was a lifelong resident of Monroe County. She went to St. Michaels grade school, and St Mary’s Academy high school, graduating with High Honors in 1959. She achieved an Associate of Science, Summa Cum Laude, from Monroe County Community College. She received her Bachelor of Arts from Siena Heights College, graduating Magna Cum Laude. She went on to receive her Master of Arts from Marygrove College. Mom worked for the law firm, Braunlich, Russeau and Braunlich, in Monroe when she was 16, while still at the Academy. The firm went through some changes, but she worked there until she retired after sixty years. Mom donated time and money to many charities, especially in Monroe. She always loved her hometown. She cherished its history, the Raisin River, her school and all the city had to offer. She is a descendant of Col. Francis Navarre, one of the Founding Fathers of Monroe. She was a member of The Friends of The River Raisin Battlefield, and donated time educating people in the history of the area. She donated time at Gabby’s Ladder, which assists people through the grieving process. Ruth also donated time at United Way for over 20 years. We are left without her help today. Mom taught Catechism at St. Charles, in Newport, and donated time to work for the Altar Society She also loved exercising, especially by taking long walks along the Raisin River. More than anything Mom loved her family. She raised two children: Kris and Mark. Kris and her husband Tim live in the Monroe area and have two kids: Phillip and Jenelle. Phillip is a successful young man and lives in Santa Fe, NM. Jenelle is married to Jake, and they have two kids, Jaxon and Joanna. Mark lives with his wife, Shar, in Boston. They have a daughter, Gabrielle, who lives in Novi. All the kids and grandkids followed her love of education, and are successful and degreed. Mom is immensely proud of them all. She met her husband, Tom Flint, when she was a young woman. Her father, Leslie, followed Tom’s boxing career, and she fell in love with the dashing and fit man. They have been together ever since; becoming closer as the years move on. She has many nephews, nieces, great-nephews and great-nieces on both sides of her close-knit extended family, all who loved Aunt Tootie-Aunt Ruth. Ruth Flint’s Dad, Leslie, passed in ’70 and her Mom, Helen, in ’99. She has missed them ever since. She was the youngest of three sisters, and older than her baby brother. Her eldest sister Barb Allen passed from us. Her middle sister, Nancy Allen, and brother Kenny are well and in Monroe. Tom has spent the last years increasingly at her side as her need for care increased. Tom and Ruth have a cabin up North, which she loves. They would be watching the deer eat outside together over morning coffee by window if they could. She would be in the yard planting flowers and visiting her two great-grandchildren. She loved reading books of all kinds and loved the challenge of Tolstoy and Shakespeare. Ruth enjoyed taking long walks with friends. In the winter She enjoyed cross-country skiing up North. She enjoyed Yoga and teaching her grandchildren the proper Yoga positions. She loved golfing, gardening, and any number of sports she sampled through the years. Tootie was kind, generous and precious. She touched many with her volunteer efforts. She was there for many friends and relatives when they needed legal assistance. Ruth will be met by many loved ones as she meets St. Peter: Her father and mother, Leslie and Helen Giles, will be at the front of the line with many present to welcome her through the Gates of Heaven. Memorial contributions in honor of Ruth may be made to the IHM, St. Charles School or SMCC.