Ruth Iryne Zellar

Ruth Zellar, 93, of Sun City Hilton Head, died Sunday, June 7, 2015 at National HealthCare (NHC) in Bluffton. Ruth was born October 31, 1921, in Chicago, Illinois, the daughter of Fred and Edith (Hottinger) Thomason. She graduated from Hirsch High School in Chicago before attending the University of Illinois where she was a proud member of the Alpha Xi Delta sorority and received her BA in English in 1943. After graduation, she worked for American Airlines at their Palmer House location. Ruth married Donald W. Zellar on December 29, 1945 and remained happily married for over 69 years. She lived in Illinois, New Jersey, Michigan and Florida where she was an active community volunteer before settling in South Carolina in 2001. She cultivated and maintained numerous lifelong friendships and was loved wherever she lived. Ruth loved to travel and cruise but family was the most important part of her life. Ruth was a member of the Lowcountry Presbyterian Church and St. Luke's Methodist Church in Orlando, Florida. She is survived by her husband, Donald of Sun City, two children, Ronald (Conni) Zellar of Sun City and Mimi (Brian) Sturgell of Kiawah Island, South Carolina; three grandchildren Laurie Sturgell (Nathan) Knowles, Stacey Sturgell (Matt) Iofredo and Ryan (Natasha) Zellar; and four great-grandchildren Cooper Knowles, Molly Knowles, Reagan Iofredo and Riley Iofredo. She was preceded in death by her parents and brother, Al Thomason. Memorial contributions may be given to Tidewater Hospice, 10 Buckingham Plantation Dr., Bluffton, SC 29910. The family was served by Sauls Funeral Home in Bluffton, SC. Memorial contributions may be given to Tidewater Hospice, 10 Buckingham Plantation Dr., Bluffton, SC 29910. The family was served by Sauls Funeral Home in Bluffton, SC.