Ruth was born November 4, 1949, in Noble Town, Oklahoma. She was the sixth child born to Sam A. and Delia M. Rhodes, who are both deceased. Ruth was the great-great-granddaughter of Scipio Noble, a Creek Freedman of the Seminole Nation, and the founder of Noble Town. Ruth was baptized in the Ethiopian Reform Coptic Church of Christ, but after moving to Seattle, Washington she joined AME which grew too big, so she joined Greater New Bethel a small church, where there was a lot of work to do. Ruth married Alonzo Hunter, Jr. in 1980 and they lived in Kent, which was a long drive to continue being active in Great New Bethel. So in 1981, she joined Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Baptist Church where she worked as a faithful member until July 2005. In January 2006, she joined the Community Church of Issaquah.
Ruth graduated from grade school in Noble Town and graduated high school at Dunjee High School in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. She attended Langton University for two years, then moved to Washington where she attended Peterson School of Business and graduated with a Keypunch Degree and Secretary Degree. She had the privilege of working as a secretary for Northwest Center for the Retired and worked as a keypunch operator at night. She wanted to do some community service, so she quit both jobs and went to work for Washington Physician Services. It was a rewarding job, but layoffs came and Ruth was the last one hired, so the first one to be let go. That didn’t stop Ruth, however; she went to work for American President Lines and worked there for 23 years before her illness caused her to retire.
She leaves to cherish her memory, her husband Alonzo Hunter, Jr.; one child, Robert E. Hunter of Renton, WA; two grandchildren Avery Guirdy of Redmond, WA, and Jordon Drexler of Redmond, WA. One Godchild, Rhandi Rosemond of Seattle, WA; one sister, Rachel Rhodes-Lewis of Carrolton, TX, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and other relatives and friends.
