RUTH BRASWELL JONES
Feb. 12, 1923-Oct. 26, 2011
HUNGTINGTON, W.Va. -- Ruth Braswell Jones passed away at Woodlands Retirement Community, having been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease several years ago.
Ruth was born Feb. 12, 1923, in Princeton, the daughter of Dr. Debro Braswell and Mary Lois Davis Braswell.
After a two-year degree from Louisburg College, she graduated Phi Delta Kappa from Duke University in 1945, and went to Johns Hopkins Hospital as head of the pediatric unit.
She married Dr. Charles I. Jones Dec. 21, 1946.
Ruth was a member of Highlawn United Methodist Church, and served several offices in the United Methodist Women.
She earned her master's degree at Marshall University.
Ruth worked as a nurse at several hospitals, and culminated her career in nursing by serving as the first director of St. Mary's School of Nursing in Huntington, W.Va., who was not a member of the Pallottine Missionary Sisters. In that capacity, she worked tirelessly with the National Association of Nurses to advance the profession of nursing.
She also served on the first board of Hospice of Huntington, and advocated for a School of Medicine to be established at Marshall University.
She was preceded in death by her husband of almost 65 years. He died at Huntington Oct. 19, 2011.
She will be missed by friends and family, including her brother and sister-in-law, Charles and Susanne Braswell; her children, Chuck and Gaytha Jones, Cathy Jones and Kathryn Childers and Sarah and Dan Stone; her grandchildren, Joy and Chris Brown, Chad and Megan Jones, Betsy and Mike Hager, Suzanne Forsythe and James, John and Hannah Stone; and her great-grandchildren Lily, Elise, Joe and Jack Hager; Hope Brown and Audrey Jones.
Proud of her Scottish lineage, Ruth wore the Gunn tartan with pride. Her father, Dr. Debro Braswell, died in her early youth. Her mother reared Ruth and her brother while loyally serving as postmaster at Princeton.
Ruth lived there in the homeplace with her family until 1963, and she maintained it as a family gathering place until her passing.
Ruth taught her children God's love and faith in Jesus Christ our savior, and prayed with them before meals and bedtime. Church attendance was a "must."
Even in her many travels with C.I. "Irving," she made sure they always found a place of worship on Sundays.
Ruth will be buried with her sweetheart "C.I." in Princeton Cemetery in Princeton at 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 29, 2011, with pastor Vernon Braswell officiating.
Instead of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to Hospice of Huntington, 1101 Sixth Ave., Huntington, W.Va., 25701.
Parrish Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.parrishfh.com.
(Pd)
Published in Obituaries on October 28, 2011 1:49 PM