Ruth Boone Wright, 90

Ruth Boone Wright, 90, of Spindale, passed away Friday, February 27, 2015.

A native of Rutherford County, Ruth was born August 31, 1924 to Mary Jane Phillips Boone and James Harvey Boone. She graduated from Rutherfordton-Spindale High School in 1941. In 1943, during World War II, Ruth married J.C. Wright, who was serving at the time in the United States Army. After the war, they had two daughters and lovingly built a life for their family in Spindale.               

Ruth worked in banking for her entire 47 year career, primarily at Union Trust Company, then Citizens Federal Savings and Loan, both in Rutherfordton. She retired from Citizens Federal in 1989 as chief loan officer.

At age 7, Ruth’s family moved from Henrietta to Spindale, where she was baptized and became a member of Spencer Baptist Church, a community that nurtured her throughout her life. During her adult years, she taught the “intermediate girls” Sunday school class for 17 years and later, after retirement, taught her own “seniors” Sunday school class for several years. For many years she and J.C. taught in the BYPU (Baptist Young Peoples Union), a forerunner to Training Union where they also taught when their daughters attended. Ruth belonged to the Arrie Smith Circle at Spencer. In her later years, Ruth became active in Spencer Serving Seniors, serving a term as president of this group. Some of her most enjoyable times in Spencer Serving Seniors included playing in the Kitchen Band and taking bus trips with the group nearby to pick apples or further away to take in shows at Pigeon Forge, TN or Branson, MO. Also in retirement, Ruth joined with a group of her friends to learn line-dancing at the Rutherford County Senior Center.

For many years, Ruth cared for her mother and later, her father, as well as for her in-laws in their later years. This ministry to others later extended itself outside her own family as she served as a hospital volunteer Pink Lady for several years after her retirement. With friends from Spencer, Ruth spent many hours regularly visiting church members and older friends who were home bound or in nursing homes and assisted living facilities throughout Rutherford County. Her last months were spent as a resident of Oakland Living Center where her care was exceptional, given with love and concern for her comfort and well-being.

Ruth was preceded in death by both parents, her husband, and a brother, Clarence Holland. She is survived by her children, Lynn Wright-Kernodle of Greensboro, NC, Jill Wright Schwacke and husband Robert of Morganton; two grandsons, John R. Kernodle III of Greensboro and Charles Schwacke and wife Jackie of Gulfport, MS. She is also survived by two great-grandchildren, Charles “Charlie” Vaughn Schwacke and Riley Jett Schwacke.

Funeral services were held at Spencer Baptist Church with Rev. Bruce Caldwell and Rev. Billy Vaughn officiating. Interment followed in Eternal Hills Memorial Park.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Spencer Baptist Church, 187 N. Oak Street, Spindale, NC 28160.

Crowe’s Mortuary is assisting the family.