Ruth Ann Putnam

Just days shy of her 100th birthday, Ruth Ann peacefully passed into her Heavenly home after a brief illness. Ruth Ann was born in Fordyce, Arkansas on August 22, 1923, daughter of late Orren Blewster Nolen and Eloise Orton Nolen. She is the sister of the late William (Billy) Orton Nolen and Sam B. Nolen. As a young girl in the 1930’s, the family relocated to Monroe, Louisiana, where she later met and married the love of her life, an Army Captain, Patrick D. Putnam, from Syracuse, New York. They were married in 1943 and lived a wonderful life together for 67 years in various places during Patrick’s career as a Special Agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Together they raised a loving daughter, Anne Orton Putnam Smith, who was tragically killed along a Florida roadside by a drunk driver in September, 1984. In the early 1970’s they finally settled in their forever home in the Deerwood Country Club community in Jacksonville, Florida where they loved to entertain family, friends and neighbors. Ruth Ann is survived by her four beloved grandchildren, Joseph M. Leemans, Patricia A. DeMercado, Staci M. Padgett, Dee Ann White (Neal); five great-grandchildren, Andrew DeMercado Jr., Byrce M. White, Amelia E. White, Abigail A. Padgett and Madison M. Padgett; and numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces and nephews and great-great nieces and nephews. As the matriarch of the family, and a grand Southern belle, she will be sorrowfully missed by her family, Deerwood neighbors and friends.

There will be no prior visitation, however a Mass to celebrate her life will be held on Friday, August 25, 2023 at 1:00pm at Holy Family Catholic Church, 9800 Baymeadows Road, Jacksonville, FL, 32256. Final interment will be held at a later date at San Juan del Rio Catholic Church, St. Johns, Florida. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Northeast Community Hospice. Arrangements are under the care and direction of Hardage-Giddens Oaklawn Chapel, Jacksonville, Florida.