Ruth Hoffman O'Neill, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother and friend to many, passed away Thursday, January 19, 2012 at her home in Lansing, North Carolina at the age of 87. Ruth was born Emma Ruth Hoffman in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on April 15, 1924 to the late William Harvey Hoffman and Bertha Topliss Hoffman. Ruth was a long time resident of the Jacksonville, Florida beaches area which was where she met Bob O'Neill, who would become her husband of 68 years. As a resident of Florida Ruth graduated from Fletcher High School, was a past president of the Beaches Historical Society, was a member of the Ribault Garden Club and was a member of St. Paul's by the Sea Episcopal Church. In North Carolina, Ruth was an active member of the Parish of the Holy Communion: Churches of the Frescoes in Ashe County where she was a past president of Daughters of the King, active in Episcopal Church Women and active in the Flower ministry. She is survived by her husband, Robert Sydney O'Neill of Lansing, North Carolina; sons, Robert William O'Neill and wife, Cheri of Jacksonville, Florida, Dennis Topliss O'Neill and wife, Marianne, of Keystone Heights, Florida, daughter-in-law Sherry O'Neill of Raleigh, North Carolina, and Gordon Felix O'Neill and wife, Nancy of Atlanta, Georgia and daughter, Lacy O'Neill Hamilton and husband, Mark, of Denver, North Carolina; nine grandchildren, Robert W. O'Neill, Jr. and Colleen Hamilton of Atlantic Beach, Florida, Kelly O'Neill Varnes and Darby O'Neill Allen, both of Chiefland, Florida, Meghan O'Neill Campbell and Katie Marie Hamilton, both of Raleigh, North Carolina, Travis Payne O'Neill of Charlotte, North Carolina, Ryan Elizabeth O'Neill of Atlanta, Georgia and Lindsey O'Neill Walls of Alpharetta, Georgia; and seven great-grandchildren, Baile O'Neill and Brynn Ellen O'Neill, both of Atlantic Beach, Florida, Blane Varnes, Reagan Varnes, Tristan Allen and Sydney Allen, all of Chiefland, Florida and Declan Walls of Alpharetta, Georgia and by many nieces and nephews and dear friends. She was preceded in death by her brother, William Harvey Hoffman, Jr., sons, Kenneth Wayne O'Neill and Russell Dean O'Neill and daughter, Ruth Ellen O'Neill. A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, February 4th, 2012 at Holy Trinity Church, Glendale Springs, NC. The family will receive friends at the church following the service. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to High Country Health Care System Hospice at www.highcountryhospice.org You may give the family your condolences at our website www.boonefuneralhome.com Boone Family Funeral Home of West Jefferson is in charge of these arrangements.