Ruth Limehouse Obituary

Ruth Bishop Hutto Limehouse

Harleyville, SC - Ruth Bishop Hutto Limehouse, 98, passed February 19, 2026 at home. She was born May 14, 1927, the sixth child out of 10, to school teacher Hallie Sillivant and farmer Sidi Bishop in the Bend of Four Holes Swamp community, Harleyville, SC. After her mother died when Ruth was 13 years old, her father was determined to keep their family together. The boys worked the fields and the girls stayed to tend the house and care for their younger siblings until the next girl in line became old enough to take over the job. Ruth stayed with the family after graduating valedictorian from Harleyville High School (1944) until the age of 21, when her younger sister was able to take over the reins of the household. She then got her nursing diploma at the Medical College of South Carolina Roper Hospital School of Nursing in Charleston (1951). During her medical training, the Dean of Nursing, Ruth Chamberlain, became a mother figure to her and encouraged her to pursue more education for career advancement. She went to Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN on academic scholarship and received her BSN (1954), specializing in pediatric nursing and fell in love with everything Vandy. She received her MA (1962) at Columbia University Teachers College in New York City to become a college protessor. She completed two doctorate courses at the University of South Carolina (1980) when her first husband, Otey, had a heart attack.

Juggling his care and family at home in Harleyville, work at MUSC in Charleston, school in Columbia, and the commute to all, became too much, so she dropped out of the doctorate program. Over the course of her career, she started as a staff nurse in the black pediatric ward at Roper Hospital (1951-1953); staff nurse at Vanderbilt University Hospital in rehabilitation, pediatrics and gynecology (1954-1956);supervisor and instructor in pediatrics at MUSC (1956- 1960); staff nurse at Charleston City-County Health Department conducting well child clinics and supervising school health activities (1960-1962); Nursing Instructor and Professor at the University of Kentucky, Lexington (1962-1967); served MUSC as Assistant and Associate Nursing Professor (1967- the late 1980s); Assistant Dean of the College of Nursing conducting the undergraduate program, its faculty and students, and acting on the Dean's behalf when absent; Department Chairperson of Pediatric Nursing, supervising nursing students in the cardiac and cancer unit; cancer research with Dr Harry Levine; Coordinator of Quality Assurance. Upon retirement from MUSC, she taught nursing at Trident Tech (late 1980s) and Health Science at Dorchester County Career School (early 1990s).

A proud accomplishment she made at MUSC was taking down the visiting hours signs in the pediatric wing. At the time, parents could only visit their sick children for limited times, causing complete bedlam of separation anxiety in both the parents and the children. Relaxed visiting hours alleviated the stress on all parties, including the nurses who had to deal with the fallout of unhappy sick children missing their loved ones. Another proud accomplishment was assisting with the separation of the dire cases of sick children from the children's ward. In essence she helped establish pediatric and neonatal intensive care units, where special teams could work on the super sick children exclusively, instead of having them all bunched in one ward. She also assisted in developing remote site student learning experiences in underserved health care delivery areas. She became one of the very first nurse practitioners in SC. Most of Ruth's accomplishments were made with leadership skills in a cheerful and encouraging spirit, according to those who worked with her. She received MUSC's Distinguished Alumni Award in 1973, Career Woman of the Year - Trident Business and Professional Women's Club of Greater Charleston Area 1977. Recipient of Resolution from SC House of Representatives and Senators in Appreciation of Services Rendered to Patients, Students, and the Profession of Nursing 1980. She held officer positions in the SC Nurses Association and the National League for Nursing. Many people called her with medical emergencies before summoning an ambulance.

A deep faith was the driving force of her life. She taught Sunday School at First Harleyville Methodist Church into her late 80s and served on every committee there at one time or another.

She volunteered at Camp High Hopes for Exceptional Children and after retirement, she and second husband, Bobby, had a volunteer Meals on Wheels route with Dorchester Seniors. She enjoyed the Tuesday Afternoon Book Club and the Harleyville Garden Club.

Being immersed in her career, she surprised family and friends by marrying for the first time at the age of 41 to J. Otey Hutto, Jr. Their daughter, Elizabeth, was born to her at the age of 43, whom the community referred to as the Miracle Hutto Baby. Thinking she'd never get married the first time, she surprised everyone once again when she married a second time to her high school sweetheart, Robert A. Limehouse, Jr., at the age of 76, and gained a wonderful bonus family.

She was predeceased by her two cherished husbands; bonus son Bob Limehouse and grandson Brian Limehouse; Bishop brothers Hamet (Louise), Richard (Doreta), Lewis, Herbert (Frances), and Jack (Helen); sisters Ella (Buddy) Alewine, Harriet (Mack) McElligott, Annie (Henry) Mizell and Mary (Rick) Fox; In-laws Faire Lee H. (Bill) Herman, Caroline H. (Harry) Batten, Bobby Westbury, TC (Bill) Limehouse, Gene (Mary) Limehouse, Minnie Love L. (Chut) Moody, and Gibby Lowder. Surviving are her daughter and son in "love" Elizabeth & Donald Baucom, Harleyville; granddaughters Julie Baucom, Clemson; Katie Baucom, Harleyville; Hope B. (Zachary) Pickvet, Ladson; Grace Baucom, Paris, TX;

Bonus son Bill (Sharon) Limehouse, Lexington; bonus granddaughter Lisa (Paul) Radibauer; bonus grandsons Robbie (Moana) Limehouse, Goat Island; Chris (Jennifer) Limehouse, Givhans; In laws Elaine H. Westbury, Harleyville, Joanne L. Lowder, Summerville; Dinah L. (Edmond) Wright, Medina, OH; Caregiver Lorraine Lary; A host of treasured bonus great grandchildren, nieces, nephews and friends. The family gives thanks to the Agape Hospice team for the care she received the last few months.

Funeral Services will be held 2:00 PM Monday, February 23, 2026 at First Harleyville Methodist Church with Reverend Robert Hoover officiating. Burial will follow in the Harleyville Cemetery. Pallbearers are Bill Limehouse, Robbie Limehouse, Chris Limehouse, Tom Limehouse, Samuel Herman, Kevin Bealer, Herbie Bishop, Jerry Bishop.

The family will receive friends from 1:00 PM until time of service in the church.

In lieu of flowers, donations will be appreciated to First Harleyville Methodist Church, PO Box 345, Harleyville, SC 29448 or to MUSC Foundation, 18 Bee St, MSC 450, Charleston, SC 29425 designated to the Ruth Chamberlain Endowed Nursing Scholarship.

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