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Shives family honors mother with donation to Hancock War Memorial Library

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by Lisa Schauer

The family of the late Ruth Ann Shives has donated $10,000 to Hancock War Memorial Library.

“She was a lifelong lover of books, especially mysteries,” said daughter Heidi Kenyon of Colorado.

Members of the late Ruth Ann Shives’ family, from left, Heidi Kenyon of Colorado, Ron Shives of Hancock, Anna Shives of Hancock, and Klara Ramnath of Frederick, pictured at Hancock War Memorial Library on Wednesday, May 27.

“We all had library cards,” said Kenyon, who grew up in Hancock with sisters Anna and Klara, at a ceremony they attended with their father, Ruth Ann’s widower Ron Shives of Hancock, and extended family at the public library on Wednesday, May 27.

Ron and Ruth Ann met in college at Penn State and raised their family in Hancock.

Ruth Ann passed away in 2024. Her brother Michael Hennig was instrumental in making the donation, according to the family.

The funds have gone toward a new installation in the library’s children’s section.

The granddaughter of Ruth Ann Shives poses next to a life-size Lite-Brite, called Pixel Pegs, made possible by a donation from her late grandmother’s estate to the Washington County Free Library.

A life-size Lite-Brite, called Pixel Pegs, was unveiled at the ceremony, hosted by the Washington County Free Library.

A plaque was hung next to the installation in memory of Mrs. Shives and her love of literacy.