Ruth Audrey Hobbs Ferguson, 96, died July 1, 2018 in Columbus, Ohio. Audrey was born June 25, 1922 in Youngstown, Ohio to Frank and Rose (Gries) Hobbs. Following high school, she graduated from St. Elizabeth’s Hospital School of Nursing and became a registered nurse. Audrey served in the Army Nurse Corps during WWII, later working as a Red Cross nurse. Her career included work as a labor and delivery nurse, caring for students at the Baldwin-Wallace College Health Center, and home health nursing in southern California.
She married Charles R. Ferguson on June 18, 1947. Together they raised three children in Berea, OH. Audrey was an avid reader, and loved gardening, sewing, knitting, cooking and baking. She had a passion for animals, especially dogs, birds, and wolves. She spent several years in Perris, CA, and later moved to Fort Smith, AR. There she became a longtime member of Christ the King Catholic Church and took pride in serving with the Altar Society. In February 2017, Audrey returned to Ohio to be near family. She was preceded in death by parents, husband Charles (d. 2001), and her brother John Francis Hobbs (d. 2003).
She is survived by her three children: Charles (Chip) Ferguson and wife Lanya of New York City, JoAnn Ferguson Kale and husband Robert of Baltimore, Ohio, and John Ferguson and wife Katie O’Neill of Grand Cayman, BWI. Also surviving are her grandchildren, David Kale (Teresa) of Pasadena, CA, and Megan Kale-Cheever (Jesse) of Baltimore, OH; and two great grandchildren.
A recitation of the Holy Rosary will be held at 10:00 am Saturday, July 28, 2018, at Christ the King Catholic Church in Fort Smith, Arkansas. The Funeral Mass will take place at 11:00 am Saturday, July 28, 2018 at Christ the King Catholic Church. Inurnment will follow the Mass in the church Columbarium.
In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations be made in support of the Mount Carmel Foundation designated to Mount Carmel Hospice and Palliative Care (www.mountcarmelfoundation.org), or 6150 E. Broad St., Columbus, OH 43213).
