Obituary of Ruby May Harth Turcotte

Ruby May Harth Turcotte, 93, of Roanoke, went home to be with the Lord, Tuesday, November 6, 2018.

Ruby was the youngest daughter born to the late David C. and Ava Lona Harth on September 30, 1925.  Raised on a farm during the great depression, and graduating from William Byrd High School at the advent of World War II, Ruby moved from Roanoke to serve in civil service at the Naval base in Norfolk, Virginia.  There she met her love, Frank George Turcotte.  They were married for 56 years until his death in 2002.

Ruby is survived by her children Robert N. Turcotte (Joanne Paris Jones) and Kathy Lawson (Hersel); two of her eight siblings, Christine Crane (Calvin) of Roanoke, and Herbert Harth of Valparaiso, Indiana; four grandchildren, Jennifer Adkins (Grady Killingsworth) of Maryville, Tennessee, Liza Turcotte of Charleston, South Carolina, Sara Gilreath (Jackson) of Gastonia, North Carolina, and Ethan Lawson of Roanoke; two great-grandchildren, Tabitha Brooke Gilbert of Maryville and Miles Gilreath of Gastonia; and one great-great-grandchild, Jake Q. Stiltner of Maryville.

Siblings proceeding her in death were four brothers, Clayborne, Earl M., Everett C., and David Edgar Harth; one sister, Florence Ava Tucker; and an infant sister, Virginia.

Ruby loved God, her family, and her country.  She was proud of military service performed by her husband, three brothers, nephews, and cousins.

Ruby led a life of giving and community service.  She always had an eye out for those in need.  She taught children’s Sunday school classes at Belmont Baptist Church for 42 years, and served Roanoke City Schools in several volunteer roles before working for many years as an employee.  She was an award-winning sales clerk for over 20 years until age 78 at Heironimus Department Store when the store closed.  She ended her career at Explore Park when Ruby asked her daughter if she thought it would be okay to retire.

Ruby had many talents including sewing, crocheting, embroidering, and gardening.

Ruby was blessed with the love and care of her family; the faithful Pastors and ministries of Belmont Baptist Church, including Pastor Jon Laughinghouse and Ann Chilton; the angelic staff of Snyder Nursing Home who cared for her in her final months; and many others.

The family will receive friends from 2 to 5 p.m. on Sunday, November 11, 2018, and one hour proceeding the funeral on Monday.  The funeral is at 11 a.m. on Monday, November 12, officiated by Pastor Troy Mays, followed by a brief graveside service at Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens.  Visitations and the funeral are at Simpson Funeral Home, 5160 Peters Creek Road. (540-366-0707)