Georgia Ruth Ford Owens

Ruth Ford Owens, 94, of Surgoinsville, went to be with the Lord Tuesday, August 5, 2008, and joined her beloved son and husband in Heaven.

She was born in Kingsport on April 24, 1914, to R. W. Ford, Sr. and Kate Calhoun Ford, the third of five children. Ruth attended Dobyns-Bennett High School, went to work at Kingsport Laundry in the early 1930's, and worked at Tennessee Eastman Company from 1940 thru 1958. She was a loyal member of Phipps Bend Church and had previously been a longtime member of Fudge's Chapel Methodist Church.

Preceding her in death were her husband of 48 years, John Robert Owens Sr.; her beloved only child, John Johnny Roberts Owens Jr.; her parents; two sisters, Reva Salyer and Ester Lois Ford; and one brother, Bennett Ford, who died in childhood.

Surviving are one brother and sister-in-law, R. W. Ford Jr. and Virginia Ford; three nieces, Kathryn Ford, Melinda Hood and husband Robin, Barbara Owens Johnson; one nephew, Brent Salyer; four great-nephews, Jacob Hutchison, Ben Painter, Adam Salyer, Jason Johnson; and one great-niece, Kimberly Broadwater.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to Sam and Gay Grey and Gene and Margaret Ferguson for their help and support in Mrs. Owens' last few years on earth.

Receiving of friends will be from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Wednesday at Hamlett-Dobson Funeral Homes, Kingsport.

A graveside service will be conducted at 1:00 p.m. Thursday at Liberty Hill Cemetery in Mount Carmel, TN.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to Phipps Bend Freewill Baptist Church, c/o Carl McPeek, 158 Regency Drive, Rogersville, TN 37857.