1923
Gerald
2012
Gerald Henson Ruth
July 10, 1923 — February 3, 2012
Gerald Henson Ruth, 88, completed a life well-lived and went to be with his Lord and Savior on Friday, February 3, 2012.
A celebration of his life, led by Rev. Ken Polk and Rev. Billy Kimbrough, will be held on Monday, February 6, 11:00 a.m. at Williams Funeral Home in Columbia. Burial will follow in Polk Memorial Gardens with military honors provided by the U. S. Army.
The family will visit with friends on Sunday, from 1:00-4:00 p.m. at the funeral home.
Gerald was born on July 10, 1923, in Grainger County, Tennessee, to Elsie and Perlow Ruth. A graduate of Washburn High School, he married Grace Ernestine Covington on September 18, 1948. He worked at Oak Ridge National Laboratory and later for NASA at Cape Canaveral, Florida, as an electrician on the Apollo program. In 1968, he became an electrical operator for TVA, and the family moved to Columbia. He worked for TVA until his retirement in 1990.
Gerald was a veteran of World War II and the Korean War and a 32nd Degree Scottish Rite Mason. He was a faithful member of First Baptist Church for 44 years and was active in the senior adult ministry. He loved God, his family, church, and friends. His faith and positive outlook were a great source of encouragement to everyone he met, especially during the death of his wife in 2010.
Gerald is survived by four daughters, Diana Ken Polk of Murfreesboro; Jan Swann of Madison, Indiana; Debbie Ruth of Spring Hill; and Kelley Ruth of Murfreesboro; four grandchildren, Rachel Jeremy Polk Hollie of Lima, Peru; Jason Polk and Joel Jenna Polk of Murfreesboro; and Sarah Blake Swann Thomas of Maineville, Ohio; four great-grandchildren, Esther, Joy, Josiah, and Elijah Hollie of Lima, Peru; and brother, Don Ruth of Knoxville. In addition to his wife, Ernestine, and his parents, Gerald was preceded in death by his sisters, Edna Jones, Opal Mullins, Irene Stitch; and brother, J. P. Ruth.
Pallbearers will be Jason Polk, Joel Polk, Blake Thomas, Sonny Day, Frank Bale, Robert Belt, Leon Dixon, and Fred Elliott. Honorary pallbearers will be the Billy Kimbrough Sunday School Class of First Baptist Church.
The family wants to express their gratitude to Dr. Ben Gardner, Dr. Houston Jameson and the caring staff of the Skilled Nursing Unit at Maury Regional Medical Center. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Senior Adult Missions Ministry at First Baptist Church, 2790 Pulaski Highway, Columbia, TN.
Condolences may be sent to the family at www.williamsfh.com .
A celebration of his life, led by Rev. Ken Polk and Rev. Billy Kimbrough, will be held on Monday, February 6, 11:00 a.m. at Williams Funeral Home in Columbia. Burial will follow in Polk Memorial Gardens with military honors provided by the U. S. Army.
The family will visit with friends on Sunday, from 1:00-4:00 p.m. at the funeral home.
Gerald was born on July 10, 1923, in Grainger County, Tennessee, to Elsie and Perlow Ruth. A graduate of Washburn High School, he married Grace Ernestine Covington on September 18, 1948. He worked at Oak Ridge National Laboratory and later for NASA at Cape Canaveral, Florida, as an electrician on the Apollo program. In 1968, he became an electrical operator for TVA, and the family moved to Columbia. He worked for TVA until his retirement in 1990.
Gerald was a veteran of World War II and the Korean War and a 32nd Degree Scottish Rite Mason. He was a faithful member of First Baptist Church for 44 years and was active in the senior adult ministry. He loved God, his family, church, and friends. His faith and positive outlook were a great source of encouragement to everyone he met, especially during the death of his wife in 2010.
Gerald is survived by four daughters, Diana Ken Polk of Murfreesboro; Jan Swann of Madison, Indiana; Debbie Ruth of Spring Hill; and Kelley Ruth of Murfreesboro; four grandchildren, Rachel Jeremy Polk Hollie of Lima, Peru; Jason Polk and Joel Jenna Polk of Murfreesboro; and Sarah Blake Swann Thomas of Maineville, Ohio; four great-grandchildren, Esther, Joy, Josiah, and Elijah Hollie of Lima, Peru; and brother, Don Ruth of Knoxville. In addition to his wife, Ernestine, and his parents, Gerald was preceded in death by his sisters, Edna Jones, Opal Mullins, Irene Stitch; and brother, J. P. Ruth.
Pallbearers will be Jason Polk, Joel Polk, Blake Thomas, Sonny Day, Frank Bale, Robert Belt, Leon Dixon, and Fred Elliott. Honorary pallbearers will be the Billy Kimbrough Sunday School Class of First Baptist Church.
The family wants to express their gratitude to Dr. Ben Gardner, Dr. Houston Jameson and the caring staff of the Skilled Nursing Unit at Maury Regional Medical Center. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Senior Adult Missions Ministry at First Baptist Church, 2790 Pulaski Highway, Columbia, TN.
Condolences may be sent to the family at www.williamsfh.com .
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Gerald Henson Ruth, please visit our flower store.
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