Ruth Bingham Mires, 82

GEORGETOWN - Ruth Bingham Mires, of Georgetown, passed away suddenly in her home on Thursday, Feb. 12, 2009. She was 82. She was born on April 30, 1926, to Alfred and Olive Bingham of Buffalo, N.Y. While attending the Buffalo State Teachers College, she met and married her husband of 62 years, Dr. Maynard H. Mires Jr. Ruth was active in a number of organizations, including the American Association of University Women, and was a member of St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Georgetown, where she served on the altar guild and was a frequent lay reader. She was a 1987 graduate of the University of Delaware, and was extremely proud of having completed her bachelor's degree after having put her education on hold to raise four children. Ruth also enjoyed travel. Early in her marriage she and her husband and first-born lived in Bangkok, Thailand (then the Kingdom of Siam), 1950-1951, and subsequently took numerous trips throughout Europe. Ruth reveled in her Irish heritage, and actually held dual citizenship with the United States of America and the Republic of Ireland. In addition to her husband, Maynard, she is survived by son, Stephen Austin Mires and his wife Vivian of Arlington, Va; son, Peter Bingham Mires and his wife Kim of Laurel; daughter, Martha Mires Britt and her husband Larry of Morganton, N.C.; and daughter, Amy Mires Poisson and her husband Gerry of Goffstown, N.H. In addition, she leaves behind a loving sister, Patricia Bingham Greenman and her husband Phil of Tucson, Ariz.; two nephews; seven grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. A funeral service will be held 1 p.m. Saturday at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Pine and Academy Sts. in Georgetown. Burial will be held 2 p.m. Tuesday at the Delaware Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Millsboro. Arrangements handled by Short Funeral Services, Georgetown.