Mary Ruth Hand Ogburn

She was born to Thomas Pleasant Hand and Ruth Gertrude Grubbs Hand on

December 12, 1925. At the age of 9, the family moved from Ellisboro, NC to Winston-

Salem, where she learned the importance of hard work on the family farm. At a very

young age, she was inspired to become a schoolteacher. Pursuing that dream, she

attended and graduated from Salem College at the age of 20. A career 5th grade

teacher, she spent the first 17 years teaching at the Children’s Home on Reynolda

Road, sometimes having as many as 40 students in her class. The remainder of her

career was spent at Walkertown Elementary. She became a Christian at a very young

age, and was a lifetime member of Hickory Ridge United Methodist Church. In her

earlier years, she was active in all facets of church life, including having sung in the

choir, involved with the UMW, and taught Sunday School, but she was especially proud

of having been the Treasurer for the Church Building Fund for the current sanctuary.

Mary Ruth stayed involved through the years supporting her son, Randy, in many

activities. This included some substitute teaching, helping with Little League, and being

a den mother for the Cub Scouts. She had an attention for detail, a love for God, and

gave selfless amounts of time to her family. She is preceded in death by her parents,

her husband of 56 years Aldeen “Dink” Ogburn, and a son David Aldeen Ogburn. She

is survived by her sister, Frances Young, and son Randy Ogburn (wife Joy). A memorial

service will be held for her on Saturday, August 15, 2015 at 2:00 PM at Hickory Ridge

United Methodist Church, 6012 Germanton Road in Winston-Salem, with the Rev. Wesley

McLeod presiding. The family will receive visitors one hour prior to the memorial service.

Interment will follow at Crestview Memorial Park in Rural Hall. The family requests that

any donations made in Mary Ruth’s memory be designated to the donor’s choice. The

family wishes to express heartfelt thanks to Brighton Gardens Assisted Living, Forsyth

Medical Center’s Palliative Care Unit, and especially the Katie B. Reynolds Hospice

Home for their care and compassion.