Ruth Elizabeth Small

In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by her husband Edward E. Small.

Ms. Small graduated from Brownsville High School in Brownsville, Pa, attended God’s Bible School in Cincinnati, OH, and worked in the office at Levi Strauss in Florence, KY until retirement. Her priorities were faith in Christ and serving and loving family. She loved to travel, do crafts (baking, sewing, knitting, card making), and loved people. She was a volunteer at the local hospital in LaGrange KY in transitional care for years and worked in crisis ministry at church. She had a quick wit and a great sense of humor. As a result of being a coal miner’s daughter and living through the depression, her lifelong ambition was the welfare of her family. Such a big priority for so many years was to assist in the care of her special needs grandson Ben by having him at her home for sleepovers, and taking him into the community. He sang for the elderly, went to craft booths at fairs, entertained the assisted living residents. He pulled people in like a magnet and she loved that he brought joy to others and those experiences brought joy to him.

She is survived by her sons: Kevin E. Small and wife Julie Spradlin Small of Wilmington, NC and David M. Small and wife Loretta Benz Small of Sulphur, KY; five grandchildren: David Small, Jeremy Small, Stephen Small, Benjamin Small and Hannah Small; five great grandchildren and one sister Jane Bable.

“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. And you know the way to where I am going.” Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.” (John 14:1-7)

Donations may be made to Alzheimer’s Foundation of America at https://alzfdn.org/ or to the Davis Community Center in Wilmington, NC at thedaviscommunity.org

A Celebration of Life Service will take place in March in Kentucky, date yet to be determined.