Ruth Isabel Hunter Smith

Ruth Isabel Hunter Smith, youngest daughter of the late Harvey Grant Hunter and Ada Florence Everhart Hunter, passed away February 2, 2016 at the age of 102. She was born December 21, 1913 in Lexington, North Carolina. Ruth graduated from Lexington High School and attended the Women's College of the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, N.C. She was employed as the office manager for Coble Dairy; as a legal assistance for attorneys in Lexington and for the Southern Railway. After the birth of her first child, Ruth became a full time homemaker raising her three children. After living in several cities following Claude's career with the Southern Railway, they moved to Knoxville in 1963. Ruth was a long time member of Central Baptist Church, Bearden where she worked with preschoolers, G.A.s, the Women's Missionary Union, the Prayer Chain and as a offering teller. She volunteered for the Mobil Meals and FISH. Her primary focus was on her three children, her grandchildren and her great-grandchildren. She spent many summer hours canning and freezing the abundant produce her husband Claude grew in his gardens, and supporting his devotion to UT sports even though her heart stayed with her North Carolina home and the Tar Heels. She never lost her sweet southern North Carolina accent despite living in East Tennessee for 70 years. Ruth was predeceased by her husband, Claude Smith; her parents; her two sisters, Thelma Mullican and Martha White; and her brother John Hunter. She is survived by her daughters Susan (Archie) Fendley and Kathy (Larry) Fendley, Knoxville; and her son, Michael (Amanda) Smith, Charlottesville, Virginia; her grandchildren, Marty (Gordon) Brown, Hartsville, South Carolina; Laura Smith, Baltimore, Maryland; David G. Smith, Charlottesville, Virginia; Elizabeth Smith, Lynchburg, Virginia; Scott (Amy)Fendley; Emily (Andrew) Jenkins; Hunter Fendley; Andy Fendley and Katie (JC)Neely all of Knoxville; her great-grandchildren, Mabel, Atticus and Skylar Brown, Hartsville, South Carolina; Christian Alderman; Neyland Fendley; Davis, Annie and James Neely; Wesley, Hunter and Olivia Ruth Jenkins and Jake Fendley all of Knoxville, Tennessee; caregivers Wanda Roche, Connie Thomas, April Andrews, and Kristi Mount. The family will receive friends from 3:00 – 5:00 p.m., Saturday February 6th, at Central Baptist Church, Bearden followed by a 5:00 p.m. celebration of life service with Dr. Wade Bibb, Dr. Larry Fields and Dr. Paul Maygar conducting the service. Burial will be 11:00 a.m., Monday in Lexington, North Carolina at Jersey Baptist Church Cemetery in the Linwood Community with Rev. Archie Fendley officiating. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Henry Chiles Mission Endowment Fund, Central Baptist Church, Bearden, 6300 Deane Hill Drive, Knoxville TN 37919. Arrangements by Rose Mortuary Mann Heritage Chapel. Online condolences at www.rosemortuary.com.

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Ruth Isabel Hunter Smith

December 21, 1913 - February 2, 2016