Ruth Metzger

CLEVELAND Ruth Hicks Metzger, 90, a lifelong resident of Bradley County, passed away on Wednesday, July 11, 2012, in a Chattanooga hospital.A graduate of Bradley High School and the Chattanooga School of Business, she worked extensively within the insurance industry prior to marriage at which time she became a devoted full-time homemaker.Metzger was a founding member of Wesley Memorial United Church; a 40-year member of the chancel choir; first president of the United Methodist Women; and an active member of the Gideon's Auxiliary. During World War II, she was a member of the Civilian Defense Corp.Metzger was preceded in death by her husband of 53 years, Newton M. Metzger; her parents, J.B. and Lena Hicks; and sisters, Irene Poe and Polly Hixson.She is survived by two sons, James (Meg) Metzger and Jonathan Metzger, of Cleveland; grandson, Mathew Metzger, of Portland, Ore., and his mother, Carla Metzger, of Cleveland.Surviving nephews and nieces include Robert R. Hixson Jr., of Chattanooga, George W. Poe Jr., of Cleveland, Sharon Hamilton, of Cleveland, Marcia Underwood, of Tallahassee, Fla., Pat Hicks, of Cleveland, Sara Harris, of Cleveland, Robert Hannah, of Cleveland, Retta Owenby, of Cleveland, and Sara Nussel, of Williston, Fla.Visitation will be held at Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church from 1-3 p.m. on Saturday, July 14; the Funeral service will begin at 3 p.m. at the Church with interment to follow at Sunset Memorial Gardens.Pallbearers will be David Johnson, Chris Morgan, Dwight Richardson, Mayor Tom Rowland, Grady Underwood and Jim Workman.The family requests that memorials be made to either the Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church Building Fund or to the Cleveland Gideon Camp.You are encouraged to share a memory of Ruth and/or your personal condolences with her family by visiting her memorial web page and guest book at www.companionfunerals.com.Companion Funeral & Cremation Service of Cleveland was honored to assist the Metzger family with these arrangements.