August 9, 1925 – December 27, 2014
Ruth Murdock, known to many of her family members growing up as Evelyn, lived her life as a daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, aunt and friend. She grew up in Tifton, Georgia, the daughter of Mary and Amos Walker, as part of a large family where she and her family traveled to “sings” – the start of a lifelong love of singing for Ruth. Her father taught her to sing and to play the piano by reading “shaped notes.” Years later, visits to her parents’ home included gospel singing in the front parlor around the piano with her father, brothers and sisters in harmony. Ruth’s strong soprano voice always carried the melody.
As a young woman, Ruth moved to Columbus to work for the railroad. There, friends introduced her to Charles Murdock. Ruth fell in love with this quiet engineer with the quirky sense of humor, and Ruth and Charles were married in November 1950. They later moved to Birmingham, Alabama, where they were members of Ruhama Baptist Church. Charles’s family also became Ruth’s family. Many friends from these early years remained part of their lives through Ruth’s and Charles’s 35 years together.
Ruth and Charles had three children – Nancy, Jan and Steve. In 1968, the Murdock family moved to Sandy Springs near Atlanta, Georgia. Ruth became a member of Wyndham Hills Garden Club and always took pride in keeping her yard and her neighborhood beautiful. Ruth and Charles joined the fellowship of Mount Vernon Baptist Church.
Eventually, Ruth’s family began to grow as children got married and then again as grandchildren were born. Ruth was a loving and proud grandmother to five girls – Megan, Alyson, Lisa, Julia and Kim – and then had the pleasure of having Tyler and James join in family life. Ruth was blessed with four great-grandchildren – Dustin, Lauren Ann, Iris and Ares – and with many nieces and nephews and the children and grandchildren of friends who embraced her in their lives.
Ruth continued to sing in the choir and in the ladies’ ensemble after Charles died, too soon, in 1985. Ruth also used her talents to create flower arrangements for worship services. Mount Vernon was the home of many friendships. Special friends traveled from near and far to join Ruth for her 80th birthday celebration in her home in Sandy Springs. Ruth reached her 89th birthday this year, having lived her life long and well.
Ruth is survived by her sister Grace; by son Steven and daughter-in-law Anne, who gave Ruth very special care in her later years; by daughter Nancy and son-in-law Jimmy; by daughter Jan and son-in-law Cliff; by her grandchildren and great grandchildren; by many beloved nieces and nephews, by Charles’s brother Bill, and by dear friends Mary Standard, Margie Arnold, and Marilyn and Harry Early. Her parents Amos Walker and Mary Conger Walker, sisters Mary, Dorothy and Ruby, brothers W.M., Barney, Edgar and Alton, and special friend Stella Henson preceded Ruth in death. She loved them all.
Her thoughts were all so full of us, She never could forget, And so I think that where she is, She must be watching yet. Waiting ‘til we come home to her, Anxious if we are late, Watching from Heaven’s window, Leaning from Heaven’s gate. Widdemer
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