Ruth Ellen Cole

Wife to Edward Lee Cole since 10/1/1948

Daughter to Jeanette “Nettie” Jane Goodwin & Terry & Henry Clay “Preacher” Terry

Mother to Mary Cole Braun, Peggy Cole, and Terry Cole (deceased)

Grandmother to Taylor Braun & Madison Braun and Shane Ziegler

Sister to 14 siblings who are all deceased.

The Hebrew meaning of the name Ruth means companion, friend, vision of beauty. What a fitting name for Ruth Cole. A companion to Ed for over 70 years. Their love was based on faith and scripture and they lived their vows daily. To love, honor, cherish for better or worse, sickness and health til death do they part. These vows were what they based their entire relationship on. Their devotion to each other brought them many joys and sorrows. They were blessed with 3 children, Peggy, Terry and Mary Ellen. They were also blessed with 3 grandchildren, Shane, Taylor and Madison. One of their greatest sorrows was the loss of their only son, Terry at the age of 19. This loss made their love and devotion even stronger. The strength Ruth showed during this time set an example for her daughters and for many others who experienced similar circumstances.

As a friend to many Ruth shared her love for others by helping in her neighborhood and church community. If the doors were open to the church, she was there and ready to worship. She lived the life of giving and sharing to others by making herself available to them in times of need. Ruth worked every Friday night at Bingo hosted by the Fairview Civic Club where she and Ed were founding members. Helping to raise money to put in ball fields and street signs for the Fairview Community was important to her. Ruth was also an expert in making Brunswick Stew and made it every year for the community BBQs. Ruth was appointed to the hospital board of Henry General now Henry Piedmont when it was developed. Ruth also served as a delegate to many Republican conventions as well as an active member of the Spalding County Republican Women and the Spalding County Republican Party. She was fortunate enough to know many local and national politicians that she and Ed helped get elected. None of her community involvement was as important to her as her dedication to the Church of Christ and her faith.

Vision of beauty describes Ruth Cole perfectly. Her outer beauty was one that got her noticed as a young woman. But it was her inner beauty that kept people attracted to her throughout her life. She had the ability to make people feel at home from the time they entered her doors where she treated them like family regardless of the circumstances that brought them into her life.

The diagnosis of Alzheimer’s is one that scares people when they hear it. Ms. Ruth and her family has dealt with the diagnosis for many years. Simple things start to be forgotten, things get misplaced, memories fade and eventually the ability to complete simple tasks of caring for oneself are gone. Ms. Ruth didn’t let her disease get her. Even after becoming completely bed bound from a broken hip and congestive heart failure, Ms. Ruth remained positive and upbeat. Ruth had been in a previous accident in 1999 that put her in intensive care with a diagnosis of not making it thru the night to never walking again to living another 20 years and walking with the use of only a cane. It was with Ed pulling her thru and making sure he oversaw the medical team that cared for her as well as the care he provided that Ruth survived. In 2015, when Ruth fell and broke her hip and entered into hospice care with a diagnosis of 3 months to live, Ed again brought her home and cared for her and oversaw her healthcare. It was this continued devotion thru the years that each of them showed for the other that caused their marriage and love to survive. Although the disease took the memories of Ruth it was the love she continued to show to those who cared for her and those closest to her that always remained constant. From her love of Krispy Kreme donuts and Cheese puffs (the breakfast of champions), to her always popping someone on the side when they passed, to her ability to still make others smile even in her sickest days, she will be remembered as the treasure she truly was. Alzheimer’s did not take her ability to love and show love even to her last day.

Ruth, companion, friend, vision of beauty…..that was Ruth Ellen Cole.