Ruth Virginia Smith

Ruth Virginia Smith, 90, passed away peacefully surrounded by loved ones on Sunday, August 21st, 2016 in her home in Lakeland, FL. Ruth was born on October 2, 1925 in Norton, Virginia to Walton and Faye Carter and was one of seven children. Ruth grew up and was educated in Norton, Virginia in the Appalachian Mountains that she loved. When she finished school she moved to Norfolk, VA where she subsequently met and married a young US Navy sailor, Roy George Smith from Lakeland, FL, during WWII. After the war ended and Roy separated from the Navy, the young couple moved to Lakeland, FL with two young children. Later a third child was welcomed into the close family. Ruth was a homemaker with a special talent for crafts, sewing, quilting and baking. She also loved gardening and her flowers flourished. Ruth especially loved her family and was a loving mother, wonderful grandmother, as well as great grandmother and wanted to be called Granny by her family as her beloved mother was. She loved and visited her beautiful mountains in Virginia and North Carolina with her husband as often as possible. Ruth and Roy shared and enjoyed a North Carolina vacation home for twenty five years where family and friends would congregate in the summer and fall. Ruth and Roy loved the people, local crafts, fruit and vegetable markets in the mountains. Ruth loved growing beautiful gardens and canning fruits and vegetables. She and Roy also enjoyed attending the mountain chapel near their cabin. After Roy’s death, Ruth relocated to the Sandpiper neighborhood in Lakeland where she made many new friends and was involved in various activities. Later she moved to the Carpenters Retirement neighborhood where she got involved in many activities and again made many new friends and resided until her death. Ruth was preceded in death by Roy, her husband, of fifty-six years and her oldest child, Joyce Faye Henderson (Tony). Surviving family members include her brother, Walton Carter, Jr and sister, Margaret Ossi. Surviving children include Roy Richard Smith (Julia) and Caroline Margaret Bradley (Larry). Grandchildren include Kenneth Henderson (Denise), Christy Henderson (Robin), Jason Smith (Jessica), Jennifer Crowley (Rick), Greg Bradley (Brad), Adrien Kiff (Paul) and Arien Phillips (Allen). Great grandchildren include Jamie Paine (Kyle), Shelby Crowley, Madison Phillips, Skylar Smith, Maclaine Kiff and Avery Smith. Funeral arrangements will be held at Gentry-Morrison Funeral Home, 3350 Mall Hill Drive, Lakeland, Florida, on Wednesday, August 24. Visitation will be at 10:00 am. Services will start at 11:00. Burial will follow at Fitzgerald Cemetery on Fitzgerald Road. The family wishes to thank all of the caregivers who were involved in the recent day to day care of our “Granny”- Sandy, Linda, Joie. Condolences to the family maybe offered at www.gentry-morrison.com

Ruth Virginia Smith

October 2, 1925 - August 21, 2016