| Josephine Hickox | |
 | |
| Birth: | 9 October 1899 Medina, Ohio, USA |
| Death: | 13 January 2009 Barberton, Ohio, USA |
| Age: | 109 years, 96 days |
| Country: |  USA
|
| Centenarian | |
Josephine Ruth Hickox (9 October 1899 – 13 January 2009) was a American centenarian and at the time of her death the oldest living female in Barberton, Ohio.
Biography[]
Josephine Hickox was born on 9 October 1899 in Medina, Ohio, USA to William R. and Josephine (Blakeslee) Hickox. In 1901, the family moved to their newly constructed home near Lake Anna in Barberton where Ruth lived until 2005, when she moved to Pleasant Pointe Assisted Living and finally Pleasant View Care Center. Ruth attended The Ohio State, Harvard University and graduated from The University of Akron with a degree in Physical Education. She began her teaching career at Margaret Park School and then taught at Kenmore High School, retiring after 42 years. Several of Ruth's former students were with her to celebrate her 109th birthday, where she was recognized for her longtime service. Traveling the world was Ruth's hobby. Over the years, she explored 42 different countries, as well as every state in the U.S.A. In 1937, while spending the summer in the Orient, she was forced to leave Beijing on the last passenger ship to sail, just four hours before the city was bombed by Japan. Ruth was a member of St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, Alpha Gamma Delta Sorority, the Daughters of the American Revolution and a 50-Year member of the Eastern Star. Ruth was preceded in death by her parents and three sisters, Edith Helmick, Helen Stanford and Jean Schmidt. She will be missed by many nieces, nephews, former students and friends. Josephine Hickox died on 13 January 2009 in Barberton, Ohio, USA, at the age of 109 years, 96 days.