Annie “Ruth” Cliatt Houser Gilbert, a devoted wife, mother and grandmother, a hard working business woman and a faithfully strong Christian, born July 8, 1929, in Atlanta, Georgia, and passed away on July 10, 2026 in Columbus, Georgia at Covenant Woods at the age of 97.
The middle child of William and Pauline Cliatt, Ruth grew up in Columbus, GA graduating from Columbus High School in 1947, for which she always held great pride and school spirit. Ruth moved to Athens for college, attending The University of Georgia where she was a member of Kappa Alpha Theta and graduated with an Education Degree. During a summer Business Law course in Columbus, she fell in love with her professor Rembert C. Houser. Following her UGA graduation in 1951, they were married. Ruth and Rembert enjoyed the next 33 years together, raising their three children, until his death in 1984.
Ruth was a proud school teacher for over 20 years at Wynnton Elementary teaching 3rd and 4th grade. She found great joy in seeing old students and parents throughout Columbus and hearing that “Mrs. Houser was their favorite teacher”!
In 1992, Ruth married Thomas “Billy” Dean Gilbert. Ruth and Billy loved traveling the world together and spending time with their children, grandchildren and friends, until his death in 2009.
Ruth was passionate about life, her community and family! She made it her job to keep up with what everyone in the family was doing and how they were doing. She always enjoyed an outing to Dinglewood Pharmacy, the Springer Opera House or the Columbus Country Club. She was a member of the Ivy Garden Club, Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) and St. Luke United
Methodist Church for over 65 years. She kept herself busy knitting beautiful caps for premature babies in the hospital and enjoyed volunteering at Meals on Wheels with her late husband Billy. She was always a proud Georgia Bulldog and Braves fan!
In 2016, Ruth moved to Covenant Woods Retirement where she met many new friends and embraced all the fun activities that living there afforded her. She went out of her way to welcome new residents and introduce them to new friends.
Ruth is predeceased by her parents, William and Pauline Cliatt, husbands Rembert Houser and Billy Gilbert, son John (Rusty) Russell Houser, sister Elizabeth “Libba” Cliatt Birdsong and brother William “Bill” Price Cliatt.
Ruth is survived by her children, Rem Houser (Leila) and Ruth Anne Bonnot (Brooks), daughter-in-law Kellie Maddox, her grandchildren, Kirbey Broome (Andy), Rem Houser (Cindy), David Houser (Paola), Annie Bonnot and Michelle Bonnot and 4 great-grandchildren.
The family is appreciative of all the love and care shown to Ruth during her final years by caregivers Margie Thomas, Sandra McKinney, Jennifer Hardaway, Linda Walker, and Gloria Purter.
The family will receive visitors on Monday, July 13 at 11:00 am at Striffler-Hamby Mortuary, 4071 Macon Rd. Columbus, GA 31907. A graveside service will be held at Parkhill Cemetery, 4161 Macon Rd. Columbus, GA 31907 at noon.
In lieu of flowers please send donations to:
St. Luke Church
P.O.Box 867
Columbus, Georgia 31902
Or
Columbus Hospice
7020 Moon Road
Columbus, Georgia 31901
