Ruth Mary Griffith

Ruth Mary Griffith, 88, passed away on March 28, 2024, in Corsicana, Texas. Ruth was born on December 9, 1935, in Philadelphia, PA.  She joined her sister, Virginia, in the home of her parents, Russell Robinet Rushton and Jennie Caroline Blackmore Rushton.  Her sister gave her the nickname that stuck for life “Boots” because little Virginia could not pronounce Ruth. She loved spending time with her aunts & uncles and cousins, especially Georgie (the kid) and Barbara. When she was 12, she fell in love with reading, starting with Max Brand novels.   She passed on to her love of reading to her children and grandchildren.

Ruth was proud to attend Girls High in Philadelphia where she graduated in 1953.  Ruth then went to Germantown Hospital Nursing School, a three-year RN program.  She loved nursing and practiced the art the rest of her life, graduating in 1956. After nursing school, she joined the Air Force and met Paul A. Griffith (Sr.).  They married on November 21^st, 1959, and Ruth became a stepmother to Jerry, Jim, and Jean Ann, as well as a wife.  The Air Force life took them to several states and to Izmir, Turkey where Ruth gave birth to her son, Paul, Jr. and later on assignment in Texas she gave birth to a daughter, Jenny.   Unfortunately, Ruth became a widow at only 33 years of age. After several years of being a stay-at-home mother, she returned to nursing to provide for her family.  Ruth worked at Edward White Hospital and Humana Hospital in St. Petersburg, FL doing utilization review.  After her retirement and many years of good times in Paducah, KY, Shreveport, LA, and Deland, FL all while living with different family members.  In 2023 Ruth’s health started failing and she returned to Texas to live with Jenny and Randy.  In March of 2024, she faced her final health battle saying, “she lived longer than anyone else in the family” and at the end she was ready to go and could not be talked into staying any longer.  She will be missed more than she could have known.

Ruth Mary Griffith is now reunited with her parents, Russell and Jennie Rushton; sister & brother-in-law, Virginia & Fred Hewett; husband, Paul A. Griffith, Sr.; stepson, Jerry Griffith in eternal peace.
 
Ruth is survived by her loving children, Paul A. Griffith, Jr. and spouse Debra of Deleon Springs, FL, Jenny Bratton and spouse Randy of Corsicana, TX; step children, Jean Graham and spouse Gary of Oklahoma City, OK, James Griffith and spouse Sherry of Warner Robins, GA, and Marsha Eckerman (Spouse of Jerry), Houston, TX; grandchildren, Brittany McClanahan and spouse Derek of Mt. Dora, FL, Patrick Griffith and spouse Heather of Deland, FL, James Bratton and spouse Linh of College Station, TX, and Jack Bratton of Williamsburg, VA.