Born in Johnston County, NC, she was a daughter of the late Ralph Hunter Lassiter, Sr. and Delsie Modlin Lassiter. She graduated as Valedictorian from Smithfield High School in 1944. Ruth earned a B.S. Degree from East Carolina Teachers College in Greenville, NC, and a M.A. Degree from the University of NC, Chapel Hill. After graduating, she embarked on a career as a high school teacher in Leaksville, NC, and Mooresville, NC. In 1950, she married J. Rush Wilson, Jr. and moved to Davidson, NC, where they opened a men’s retail clothing store. After opening a second store in Greenville, SC, in 1959, Ruth, Rush, and their three children moved to Greenville in 1965. Ruth managed the ladies department at Rush Wilson Limited where she made many dear friends through the years.
Ruth and Rush travelled extensively supporting Rotary International events around the world. Ruth took great pride in her ongoing participation in Rotary’s Paul Harris Fellowship Program. Ruth’s love for youth, education and travel resulted in her leading a youth foreign exchange program for many years. In retirement, she enjoyed oil painting, gardening, and playing bridge.
Later in life, Ruth moved to The Woodlands where she led a full life and was attended by a very caring staff. Ruth was honored that her artwork was chosen twice to be featured in the Woodlands Artist Gallery. Recently she celebrated her 90th birthday among family and friends.
In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by her brother, Ralph Hunter Lassiter, Jr.; and her sister, Jean Lassiter Jones. She is survived by her daughter, Elizabeth Linden Wilson; 2 sons, Rush Wilson, III and his wife, Amanda, and Hunter Wilson and his wife, Lorraine; her sister, Betty L. Parrish and her husband, Bob Martin of Kenneth City, FL; and her grandson, James Rush Wilson, IV and his fiancée, Amelia Ossi.
Special thanks and gratitude go to Ingrid Davis, Rosemary Gamble and her other caregivers for their compassionate and loving care of our mother.
A service to celebrate Ruth’s life will be held at 10:30 am Tuesday, September 5, 2017 in the Chapel of The Mackey Mortuary. The family will receive friends at the mortuary following the service.
A graveside service will be held Thursday, September 7, 2017 at 11:00 am in Sunset Memorial Park in Smithfield, NC.
Memorials may be made to Greenville Rotary Charities, Greenville Literacy Association, Boy Scouts of America (Blue Ridge Council) and Girl Scouts of America (Mountains to Midlands), or to a charity of your choice.
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.18