Being with immediate and extended family was her joy Amy Ruthe Bennett Graves, 89 years, passed away on July 13, 2009 at Heart of the Ozarks Healthcare Center, Ava, Mo.
Ruthe was born Jan. 18, 1920 at Bennett Spring, Mo., to William Sherman and Rev. Louie M. Bolds Bennett.
On March 8, 1942 Ruthe and Bob Graves were united in marriage in Joplin, and to this union one daughter, Brenda, was born. Ruthe was a longtime active member of the Ava United Methodist Church. She taught Sunday school for many years and was a member of the choir and also sang in the ladies trio for several years. Being with her immediate and extended family was her joy. A high point of her year was attending the annual Bennett Family Reunion.
Ruthe was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Bob Graves in 2002, a sister, Naomi Stafford, infant sisters, Segale and Vinnie, four brothers, Paul, Silas, Luke and George Bennett.
Ruthe is survived by her daughter, Brenda Graves-Blevins, Columbia, Mo.; a grandson and wife, Rev. Jeremy Blevins and Rev. Laura Hilton Blevins, St. Joseph, Mo.; a niece and husband, Marlene and Hardy Cobb, Ava, Mo.; many other nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.
Funeral services for Ruthe will be today (Thursday, July 16) at 3 p.m. in the Ava United Methodist Church, with burial in the Ava Cemetery. Visitation will be from 2 p.m. to service time at the church. The family requests memorials to the Ava United Methodist Church. Officiating will be Revs. David Bennett, Jeremy Blevins, Laura Blevins and Marty Blakey.
Services will be conducted by Clinkingbeard Funeral Home, Ava. Online condolences may be made to www.clinkingbeardfuneralhome. com.
