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In lieu of flowers, the family welcomes all expressions of sympathy and encourages donations to a favorite charity in Ruth’s name.
Ruth Overton Ford, age 89, passed away on September 10, 2023 in Nashville, Tennessee.
Ruth Ford’s life was a testament to the power of love, faith, and selflessness.
In her early years, Ruth showcased her creative spirit as a basketball player and a gifted artist. However, it was her dedication to the principles of faith and service that truly defined her life. Together with her beloved husband, Gynnath, she was involved in a lifetime of ministry, sharing their love of Christ with the world through the church, various mission works, and a number of different outreach ministries.
In addition to supporting her husband in ministry work, Ruth also showcased a nurturing spirit, raising four children and serving as a preschool teacher in Dickson, Tennessee for ten years.
For the last decade of her life, Ruth selflessly served as the primary caregiver for her husband, Gynnath, while he battled Parkinson’s Disease. She not only supported him through his health struggles but also joined him in Parkinson’s boxing classes, exemplifying her unwavering dedication to his well-being.
Earlier this year, Ruth was preceded in death by her husband, Gynnath, the love of her life for 69 years. She was also preceded in death by her son, Jeff Ford, her grandson, Robert Riall, as well as her parents Catherine Moore Overton and Robert Overton.
Ruth is survived by her children Corinne (Bobby) Riall, Diane (Russell) Howard, and Rebecca (Todd) Fortner; grandchildren, Joe, Ben, Elizabeth, Mary, Margaret, Hannah, Evangeline, Susanna, Josiah, Lillian and Lucretia; nineteen great-grandchildren and her sister, Martha (Bill) Thetford.
