RUTH SMITH

Ruth Smith, Johnston City, IL, passed away peacefully at home on Friday morning, October 18, 2024.  She was 94 years old.

Ruth was born in McLeansboro, IL on November 27, 1929 to Lula Viola Glenn and Cyril Charles Hassett.

Ruth went to school in McLeansboro and was a majorette in high school.  While in high school Ruth worked at the theater and drug store.  Upon graduating from McLeansboro High School Ruth worked at the Elder Shirt Factory pressing cuffs.  At 18 years old Ruth moved to Downey, a Veteran's Hospital in north Chicago where she worked with mental patients.

It is there where she met William Floyd Smith, also known as Smitty who also worked at Downey.  They were married on February 14, 1949 in North Chicago.  They had 3 children, Jimmy, Debby and Glennie.  Jimmy Smith, passed away in 1965 in a motorcycle accident when he was 15 years old.  Debby (Smith) Pulley resides in Marion, IL with her husband Buddy, and sons Bradley (Adam) Pulley from Johnston City, IL, Brent Pulley, Marion, IL, and Glennie (Jackie DeVries) Smith, lives in Rockford, IL.  Ruth has one great-grandson Ari Grey Mapps.

Ruth raised her three children while working many jobs.  She worked at  Ordill which is a government facility that made separation devices for the shuttle, National Transformer in Johnston City as a purchasing agent, the Veteran's Administrative Hospital where she had many jobs, including her favorite which was working at the switchboard.  She liked that job the most because she was able to talk to all the people, especially the doctors.  Ruth retired in 1980 at age 61.

To everyone who knew her, Ruth was the most kind-hearted person.  She was loving, kind, caring and thoughtful.  She was the Florence Nightingale in her community. Everyone sought her counsel and advice.

Ruth was an active member of St. Paul's Catholic Church in Johnston City, IL where she sang in the choir for over 30 years.

Ruth moved to Rockford in 2020 and lived with Glennie and Jackie until she purchased her condo in Loves Park in 2023, one minute from Glennie and Jackie's home.

Ruth is preceded in death by her brother, James (Jackie) Hassett and Geneieve (Marvin) Swafford.

Her best friend is Barb Williams from Johnston City.

Ruth will be dearly missed.

Visitation will be held on Friday, October 25 from 5pm-8pm at Murman Wilson Funeral Home in Johnston City.

The funeral will be held on Saturday, October 26 at 10:30am at St. Paul's Catholic Church in Johnston City followed by a gravesite service at Lakeview Cemetery.  Then a luncheon will be served at St. Paul's Parish Center.