Ruth Lee

Ruth Joyce Lee, 78, of Marietta, died Thursday morning, August 21, 2008 at WellStar Kennestone Hospital. Ruth was born November 7, 1929, in Asheville, North Carolina, the second child of Samuel and Alma Lee. Ruth grew up and attended school in the Asheville area, graduating from Lee Edwards High School in 1947. She was active in the band and also played basketball. After graduation, Ruth moved to the Chicago area to live with her aunt. There she attended and worked at Billings Hospital as a medical records transcriber. She met her husband Douglas at a church in the Chicago area and later their paths crossed again at Grace Bible College in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where they both attended. On June 9, 1956, Ruth and Douglas were married. They were devoted to each other and celebrated their 52nd anniversary this year. During the course of the next six years, Ruth and Doug had four boys and moved to the Chicago Heights area, where Douglas had been raised. Both Ruth and Douglas were devoted to God and his grace of salvation. Together they started Faith Bible Church in 1956, where for 18 years Ruth was very active in the development of the church, coordinating many activities and ministries. Ruth then dedicated the following 23 years of her life to raising the boys. She was the original soccer Mom, except then it was band, baseball, football, hockey, and track. She supported her boys in every possible way imaginable. Ruth’s love of music lead her to sing in several choirs’ during her adult life. While living in Indiana, after Douglas retired, she sang with the Jasper County Chordettes, a local community choir group. She loved birds and actually raised a baby blue bird that had escaped its nest. Ruth was also a lover of plants and flowers, creating several flowerbeds over her lifetime. Ruth is preceded in death by her parents, her brothers, Robert in 1957, William in 1986, and her sister Florence in 2004. She is survived by her husband Douglas and four sons, Commissioner Tim (Annette), Steve, Dan (Mindy) and Sam (Cathy). Also surviving are nine grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. Visitation will take place Monday, August 25th from 4-7:00PM at Mayes Ward-Dobbins Funeral Home, 180 Church St., NE, Marietta, GA 30061. The memorial service will be Tuesday, August 26th at 10:00AM at Grace Church at Town Center, 3079 Hidden Forest Court, Marietta, GA 30066, with Pastor Jim Laird officiating. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to missionaries that Ruth and Douglas have supported for many years. Donations may be sent to: Valerie Anderson & Meghan McBride, c/o Things to Come Mission, Inc., P. O. Box 127, Beech Grove, IN 46107-0127.