Ruth Kathleen Hooker (Barkley)

HOOKER, Ruth Kathleen (Barkley) of West Branch, Michigan, formerly of Fenton and Grand Blanc, passed peacefully at home with family by her side on October 21, 2026. Ruth was the daughter of Merritt and Margaret Barkley of Swartz Creek. She was born in Flint. Michigan on May 27, 1952. She graduated from Flint Southwestern High School with high distinction in 1970. Ruth married her high school sweetheart, Benny Hooker, in 1972. They raised three children and their grandson and celebrated 54 years of marriage on September 9th. Ruth loved her family and they were the most important thing in her life. She was an excellent mother, wife and homemaker. She was a woman of faith and was baptized at First United Methodist Church in Grand Blanc where she was a member for many years. Ruth worked in several different positions throughout the years including retail, accounting, real estate sales, mortgage lending and insurance. 

She was a kind and gentle soul who had great love for children. She earned her Child Development Associate credential and was a dedicated preschool teacher at the Fenton Community Schools GSRP Program at the Ellen Street World of Wonder. She was known for entertaining children with her Mother Goose character. She retired in 2015.

Ruth was a child advocate and volunteered for several charitable organizations including Old Newsboys of Flint. She taught Sunday School. served as a Cub Scouts den mother for several years and volunteered with the Boy Scouts of America Tall pine Council.

She loved the outdoors and enjoyed camping, canoeing, hiking, fishing and pontoon boating. She loved to take long boat rides and golf car rides around the lakes and wooded trails looking for wildlife.

Surviving are her husband, Benny and grandson, Wade of West Branch, son, Jeffrey Hooker of Monroe, daughters Andrea (Richard) Donajkowski of Davisburg and LeaAnne (Jason) Harvey of Owosso, brother Robert (Kitty) Barkley of Lennon and sister, Marian (Matthew) Allinger of Swartz Creek as well as 5 grandchildren, Wade, Elizabeth, Davion, Chanel and Marel and many nieces and nephews.

A special thanks to Ruth's sisters-in-law Glenda Bell and Lynne Conway, as well as her faithful friend, Jeanette Maus and husband Allan of Fenton. Also, thank you to Compassus Hospice of West Branch (Whitney, Emily, Jackie, Sheri, Laurie, Sandy, Rickie, Brittany, Bobby, Randy and Victor as well as Mona, Sally and Peggy at the Ogema Commission on Aging in West Branch.

Cremation has taken place and a memorial service will be held at Swartz Funeral Home, 1225 West Hill Road, Flint at 4:00pm on Friday, November 6 with visitation prior to the service from 2:00pm to 4:00pm. Donations may be made to the family.