Elizabeth Hinnant Melia

A memorial service will be held at Dorsey-E. Earl Smith Memory Gardens Funeral Home, 3041 Kirk Road, Lake Worth, FL 33461 on July 13, 2013, 2pm. Reverend Cindy James of First Christian Church will be officiating.

Ruth was born in Wendell, North Carolina, September 9, 1923 to Rosa (Buchanan) Hinnant and Hugh Orin Hinnant. She was one of five children.

Ruth is predeceased by her parents, three siblings, Kila Hinnant Hughes 1983, Kathryn Hinnant Terrell 2013, & Kenneth Hinnant and her late husband’s, Wilton John Kennedy 1943 with whom she had two sons William Hugh Kennedy 1979 and John Marshall Kennedy 1993; Husbands William Auburn House 1974, and Anthony (Tony) Melia, 1987.

Survivors include her sister Dorothy Ferguson; her son, William Wayne House and her grandsons Sean Daniel House and Zachary Auburn House; her Granddaughter, Dorothy Ann Cole (Randy) her two great grandchildren (Shawn & Elizabeth); and her nephew William Hugh (Paula) Terrell; and niece Kathryn Ellen Dunn; as well as several other nieces and nephews.

Ruth was a kind, loving and giving person that felt her family was the most important treasure in her life. She was a firm believer in giving back and helping others. She was a selfless person with a big heart who was always reaching out to help others in need. She touched and impacted many lives in a positive way. She will be sorely missed by her family, friends and those that she helped.

Ruth was born and raised on the family farm located 16 miles east of Raleigh, NC. She graduated High School and attended Business School in Raleigh, NC where she studied bookkeeping and accounting.

She had a diverse career which included working as a Bank Teller; Secretary to NC National Guard; Secretary Administrator for White Westinghouse; Secretary/Bookkeeper; Real Estate Sales Agent; Real Estate Office Manager; School Bus Driver; Bookkeeper for an orange grove; Caregiver; and worked for Consumer Credit Counseling Services (CCCS) as a Credit Advisor for over 20 years helping hundreds of people along the way to become debt free. During her tenure at CCCS she became the go to person for difficult complex cases. She owned and operated two very successful business; a Seaside Motel in Ormond Beach, FL and a Child Care Center. Additionally, she was a real estate investor with many rental properties in the West Palm Area.

She enjoyed gardening and was a member of the West Palm Beach Garden Club for many years. She loved anything that grew. Some of her favorite plants were orchids and bromeliads.

She was a member of the Hephzibah Baptist Church in Wendell, NC where she taught Sunday school for many years.

The Family is requesting donations to the Hospice of Palm Beach in lieu of flowers in the Memory of Elizabeth (Ruth) Melia:

HOSPICE OF PALM BEACH COUNTY

Lauer Unit

5300 East Ave

West Palm Beach, FL 33407