Ruth G Carlton

Ruth Mary Gaynor Carlton, 94, passed away on February 11, 2016 in Concord, North Carolina. She was born September 24, 1921 in Sioux City, Iowa, to the late Samuel W. Gaynor and Ada L. Gaynor. She attended schools in Sioux City and was a graduate of Briar Cliff College. She married Cecil E. Carlton and they moved to Sanford, where she taught at Southside Elementary for 30 years. After his death she remained there until 2003, when she moved to North Carolina to live with her daughter and son-in-law, Ruth and Randy Bratton. While in Sanford, Ruth was a member of Holy Cross Episcopal Church and in Concord was a member of All Saints’ Episcopal Church. She was an active member and served on the Altar Guild at both churches. In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by two sisters, Anne Gaynor Koberg and Alice Gaynor Rupert. She is survived by a sister, Jane Gaynor Smith of Manchaco, Texas; daughter Ruth Bratton (Randy) of Concord, North Carolina; grandson Kevin Smith (Cathy) of Princeton, Texas; granddaughter Michelle Smith Hooker of Charlotte, North Carolina; and great-grandchildren Brittany Smith Solano (Timmy) of Alexandria, Virginia; April Smith and Casey Smith of Princeton, Texas; and Elizabeth Hooker and Emily Hooker of Charlotte, North Carolina. She is also survived by step-daughter Marion Stewart of Deland; step-granddaughters Sonya Cragin (Ed) of Monroe, Georgia; Becky Lucas of Satilla, Texas; Marie James of Oregon; step-great-granddaughter Shavon Ritter (Casey) and their children Trevor, Colby and Luke of Lone Oak, Texas; brother-in-law Hugh Carlton (Darlene), and very dear friend Dorothy Stewart Williams. In addition, she is survived by a host of nieces and nephews to whom she was a loving and cherished aunt. Visitation will be held at Holy Cross Episcopal Church from 5 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, February 18th. The funeral will be at the church at 11:00 a.m. Friday the 19th, with a graveside service afterward at Oaklawn Cemetery in Lake Mary. A reception will follow in the church Parish House. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in her memory to Holy Cross Episcopal Church.