Ruth E. Peterson, 94, of Rock Island, passed away Friday May 23, 2014 at Hope Creek Care Center, East Moline.Services will be 11:00 a.m. Thursday at Wheelan-Pressly Funeral Home, 3030 – 7th Ave., Rock Island, where visitation will be one hour prior to services. Burial will be at Buffalo Prairie Cemetery, Buffalo Prairie, IL. Memorials may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

Ruth was born February 11, 1920 in Buffalo Prairie, IL, a daughter of Orrin and Mabel (Bull) Whitlock. She married Maynard Peterson on January 1, 1938 in Iowa City, IA. He preceded her in death on January 17, 1997.

Ruth and her husband owned and operated Crossroads Inn in Milan and later Pete and Ruth's Corner Tap in Port Byron. She also was employed at Kmart for many years.

She was a member of World Thrust Christian Center, Orion, and Ladies of the Moose, Rock Island. Ruth was a gifted gardener and loved tending to her flowers and plants. An avid bowler, she bowled in area leagues until the age of 89. She was a member of the USBC and the National 600 Bowling Club.

Surviving are her daughters, Karen Parry, Hampton Falls, NH, and Bonnie Peterson, Rock Island; grandson, Christopher Parry; great-grandchildren, Brendan and Allison Parry; sister, Charlotte Whitehall, Joy, IL; and many nieces and nephews.

Ruth was preceded in death by her parents, husband, sisters, Elsie Whitlock and Irene Brookhart, and brothers, Charles, Lowell, Merton and Melton Whitlock.