Mrs. Ruth Bennett Heule, 86, formerly of Thomaston, died Wednesday, December 5, 2012 at the Benton Village Assisted Living Center in Stockbridge.

Funeral services for Mrs. Heule will be held Friday, December 7, 2012 at 2 pm at the First United Methodist Church in Thomaston with the Rev. Herbert Flanders officiating. Burial will follow in South View Cemetery.

Mrs. Heule was born on January 7, 1926. She was one of five children of Lambert F. Bennett and Ruby King Bennett. Mrs. Heule began her education in a one-room school building and later finished her high school education at Jesup High School. She was the salutatorian of her graduating class. While in high school her brother, Bill Bennett, was her math teacher.

At the age of 17, Mrs. Heule suffered the loss of her mother. She was her mother’s caregiver since her siblings were either away from home or in World War II. She lived with family and friends after her mother’s death until she graduated from high school.

Mrs. Heule moved to Savannah to live with her father while she attended Savannah State College. She later transferred to the University of Georgia and earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Journalism. She was a lifetime member of the Phi Kappa Phi.

After graduation, Mrs. Heule found a job in Thomaston as a reporter for The Thomaston Times. She met her future husband, William H. Heule and after their marriage, she taught journalism classes for 15 years at R. E. Lee Institute. After the birth of her daughter, Nan Heule Brown, she returned to college at Mercer University and earned her Masters Degree in Curriculum and Supervision. Later she returned to the University of Georgia and earned her Educational Specialist degree in Educational Administration and Policy. She then began a new job as curriculum director for the Thomaston City Schools. While working in this position she wrote federal grants, procedures and oversaw the special education department. Mrs. Heule began planning her retirement, but was asked to lead the East Thomaston Elementary School as principal, a position she held for two years.

After working in the education field for 38 years Mrs. Heule became the assistant director the Thomaston Upson Arts Council, and worked with much enthusiasm for another 10 years. She loved to donate clothes and money to the House of Care, animal shelters and many national charities.

Mrs. Heule’s hobbies included reading, gourmet cooking, and playing the piano. She was also an avid violinist. She enjoyed watercolor and oil painting. She and her husband, Bill, and her sister Margaret Cooper and brother-in-law Winston Cooper loved to travel. She had visited 15 countries and 49 states. She loved animals and was particularly fond of her walking companion, Andy the Jack Russell Terrier.

Mrs. Heule was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Thomaston.

She is survived by her daughter, Nan Heule Brown of Locust Grove; two granddaughters, Kathryn E. Brown and Margaret H. Brown, and one great-grandson, Logan G. Brown, all of Locust Grove.

The family requests that memorial contributions be made to the Thomaston-Upson Humane Society, P. O. Box 1152, Thomaston, GA 30286, or the First United Methodist Church of Thomaston, P. O. Box 707, Thomaston, GA 30286.

Condolences may be expressed at www.pasleyfletcher.com. Pasley-Fletcher Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.