Ruth Kimball Milling ’28, one of Elon’s oldest and most enthusiastic graduates, died on Wednesday, Nov. 28, in Burlington at age 100.
Milling said her three loves were, “God, family and Elon University.” In spring 2005, she made a gift to establish the Jacob Allen Kimball Endowed Scholarship in honor of her father, who attended Elon in 1889, the year the college was founded, and later served as a trustee for 30 years.
“Papa thought so much of Elon,” Milling told The Magazine of Elon in 2006. “This is one way I could show my love for him and Elon.”
Jacob Allen Kimball sent most of his children to Elon, including Ruth, Alma Kimball Mayfield ’30, John Allen Kimball Jr. ’33, the Rev. Robert Morris Kimball ’34, and Lillie Kimball Tanner ’36, as well as numerous grandchildren. Ruth’s mother, Ruth Morris Kimball, also loved Elon and supported sending her children to the college.
The Jacob Allen Kimball Endowed Scholarship is awarded to deserving students majoring in religious studies or education from North Carolina’s Warren or Vance counties. Milling, a Warren County native, studied religion and education at Elon before launching a successful teaching career. She believed it was important to provide students with quality education through scholarships. She also made an estate gift to her alma mater, which will be added to her scholarship fund.
Milling was a member of First Presbyterian Church in Burlington and in 1998 received the Woman of the Year award from the First Presbyterian Church Women.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, Dec. 1, at 11 a.m. at First Presbyterian Church in Burlington. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that contributions be made to the Jacob Allen Kimball Endowed Scholarship Fund, 2600 Campus Box, Elon, NC, 27244, or to the Good Samaritan Fund of the First Presbyterian Church.