Ruth Hailey Doumlele

With great sadness, we announce the loss of our beloved mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, Ruth Hailey Doumlele, of Richmond, on June 30, 2026. Ruth passed peacefully after a brief illness, surrounded by loving family and close friends during her final days. A memorial service will be held at St. Michael's Episcopal Church, Bon Air, on Saturday, August 8, 2026, at 10:30 a.m., followed by a reception at the church. Inurnment will be private for family and close friends at 2:00 p.m. at Riverview Cemetery.

Ruth was born in Charlotte County, a descendant of English and Irish families who came to America in the 1600's. She attended Richmond schools, and during World War II, married a handsome naval officer, John Antony Doumlele.

After the War, the family, Ruth, John, Tony, and Suzanne, lived in Richmond's Stratford Hills for more than a quarter century. Ruth was active in the Southampton Recreation Association, Southampton Woman's club and Southampton Garden Club. She served as the Swim Records Chairman for the Virginia AAU and taught Sunday School at St. Michael's Episcopal Church in Bon Air. Ruth was a Brownie Troop Leader and a Cub Scout Den Mother.

In the business world, Ruth was business manager at WLEE Radio and WXEX-TV and later became corporate business manager and assistant vice president for Neighborhood Communications Corporation.

Ruth joined the American Society of Women Accountants and served in various offices for more than thirty years. The national organization named her a Woman of Achievement. Ruth was a contributor to The Woman CPA magazine. She later joined the National League of American Pen Women and wrote for the Inner Light, Virginia Woman, Richmond Magazine, Macoy Astrological Digest, the Mercury Hour, and the Stellium Quarterly.

Living in Powhatan County in semi-retirement, Ruth was active in the Woman's club of Powhatan County, the Michaux St. James Foundation and served four years as president of the Powhatan County Historical Society. She also served for twenty years on the Powhatan County Selective Service Board, a presidential appointment. Ruth was interested in and active in Powhatan's history, writing articles on historic sites and districts for Powhatan Today, and listed designated sites for the Huguenot Trail Advisory Committee.

Ruth was a docent at Virginia's Governor's Mansion and served during the five gubernatorial administrations. Her book on Virginia women, "The Randolph Woman & Their Men", was the nonfiction story of the Randolph family during and after the American Revolution.

She joined the Commonwealth Chapter, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution and received the History Award Medal "in recognition of contributions that significantly advance our understanding of our nation's past."

Ruth was also a member of Virginia Professional Communications and National Press Women, Powhatan Civil War Round Table, the Michaux St. James Foundation, the Virginia Writers Circle at the Library of Virginia, St. Margaret's Guild/St. Michael's Episcopal Church, and the Mary Ball Washington Museum and Library.

She held a bachelor's degree from Mary Baldwin College and a master's degree from the University of Richmond.

Ruth enjoyed her spring Civil War weekends with her grandsons, travel, American History, especially Civil War, and particularly fishing at Happy Ours, her Chase's Cove cottage in Lancaster County.

She was predeceased by her husband, John Antony Doumlele; son, John Anthony Doumlele, Jr. (Tony); son-in-law, Dr. John Thomas Owen; her parents, Clarrie Hailey and Virginia Ferguson; her sisters, Thelma Williams, Lois Toler, and Esther Haller, and long ago by her dog, Speedy.

She is survived by her daughter, Suzanne Owen Coyner (Carthron); daughter-in-law, Leigh Grant; grandchildren, Dr. John Randall Owen (Dr. Meredith Parks), Dr. Courtney Mattes (Joshua), Nicholas Doumlele (Michelle Davies), and Dr. Kyra Doumlele (Ashton Todd). She is survived by several nieces, nephews and cousins.

She is also survived by her great grandsons, her precious sugar boys; Owen Mattes, Jacob Mattes, William Mattes, Thomas Owen, and Antony "Tony" Todd.

Ruth "lived her own life" until the end, actually writing most of her obituary and planning her memorial service! In lieu of flowers, a memorial contribution may be made to St. Michael's Episcopal Church, 2040 McRae Road, Bon Air, VA 23235.