Funeral services for Ruth W. Skelton, 92, will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday, February 23, 2010, at the K. L. Brown Funeral Home and Cremation Center Chapel with the Rev. Dr. Bob Ford and the Rev. Jimmy Wilson officiating. Burial will be in Jacksonville City Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the funeral home for one hour prior to services. Mrs. Skelton died Saturday, February 20, 2010, at Autumn Cove Assisted Living in Anniston.

She is survived by nieces, Marilyn Davis, Diane Skelton, Sybil Groulx, Tommie Jean Perry, Judy Christian, Marcia Cobun, Loretta Huntley, Linda Hockman and Jean Mitchell and nephews, Chaplain Jimmy Wilson and Clyde Brittain Jr.

Pallbearers will be Clyde Otis Brittain Jr., Peter Cobun, Dr. William Davis, John Hockman, Richard Huntley, Ollie Noles, Nelson Mahaffey and Bill Norris.

Ruth was an educator in the Texas Public School System. She enjoyed the simple things in life. She was a voracious reader until she developed poor eyesight. She understood the land and could make anything grow. Beautiful flowers decorated her yard. Homegrown fruits and vegetables were often shared with family and friends. When Ruth returned to Jacksonville after her husband’s death, she became active in the community. For more than 20 years, she was a dedicated volunteer with the Jacksonville Hospital Auxiliary. She also volunteered with the Community Chest. Some of her most enjoyable activities were those she shared with the Senior Adult Ministry of First Baptist Church of Jacksonville. Ruth’s lifestyle was that of hard work, strong independence, self-discipline and a faith in God who would sustain her until He called her home.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Talmadge Samuel Skelton; a daughter, Mary Edith Skelton; her parents, Willie and Ida Wilson; a brother, Roscoe Wilson and sisters, Rachel Brittain and Alma Smith. The family would like to extend special thanks to the staff of Autumn Cove Assisted Living Community. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to First Baptist Church of Jacksonville, P.O. Box 400, Jacksonville, AL 36265 or New Beacon Hospice, P. O. Box 2581, Anniston, AL 36202. Online condolences to the family at: www.klbrownfuneralhome.com.