Ruth
Ruth Gates Sheffield
d. April 3, 2014
Ruth Gates Sheffield, age 83, passed away at her home on Thursday, April 3, 2014.
Mrs. Sheffield was born in Glade Spring, VA a daughter of the late John Walter Gates and Alta Moore Gates. Ruth was committed to her extended family, her church, numerous community organizations, and the students that she taught over the course of nearly 40 years. Education was her passion and lifelong commitment. In her career as an educator, she taught Mathematics and retired as a Math Supervisor for Washington County Public Schools and Smyth County Public Schools. She was a graduate of Radford College with a Bachelor's Degree in Education, followed by a Master's Degree in Education from the University of Virginia.
Ruth was a longtime member of the Glade Spring Baptist Church where she served as an officer, a Sunday School teacher, and a Bible School teacher. She was a member of the Women's Mission Union and the Rebecca Wheeler Circle.
Ruth served on the Board of the Highlands Community College, and as President of the Auxiliary Board at Johnston Memorial Hospital. She was a well-known and loved hospital volunteer. She was the recipient of the French Moore, Jr. Award as the Outstanding Volunteer of the Year of the Virginia Highlands Festival in 2006. As a lover of art and history, she gave her time to the Arts Depot and the Fields-Penn House Museum in Abingdon. Ruth was an avid reader and enjoyed the fellowship of the Book Lover's Club of Glade Spring. She served many years as their treasurer.
Mrs. Sheffield was preceded in death by her loving husband of 58 years, John F. Sheffield of Glade Spring, VA; brothers, John G. Gates of Naruna, VA and James F. Gates of Galax, VA; sisters: Evelyn G. Johnson of Johnson City, TN; Stella G. Scott of Bristol, TN; Eula G. Burnette of Glade Spring, VA; Janie G. Patterson of Wytheville, VA; niece, Karen Patterson Hudson; and nephews, Michael Burnette and Edwin Sheffield.
She is survived by a brother, George F. Gates and wife Janis Thomas Gates of Bedford, VA; nephews, James Gates, William Burnette, Alex Johnson, Derek Patterson, and David Sheffield; nieces, Pat Shelton, Louise Bryant, Rebecca Hubbard, Cindy Burnette, Sarah Snead, Sandra Horne, Susan Jones, Cathy Gates, Brenda Estess, Debbie Iverson, and Sylvia Gerlach.
Visitation with the family will be held from 1:00-3:30 p.m. Sunday, April 6, 2014 at Glade Spring Baptist Church. A funeral service will be held at 3:30 p.m. Sunday at the church with the Reverend Dennis Blazier and Dr. Karl Pittard officiating. Interment will follow at Mount Rose Cemetery where William Burnette, James Gates, Alex Johnson, Derek Patterson, Jeff Shelton, and Luther Shelton will serve as pallbearers. George F. Gates will serve as an honorary pallbearer.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Washington County Public Schools Education Foundation, 812 Thompson Drive, Abingdon, VA 24210, or to the Washington County Public Library System Glade Spring Branch, P.O. Box 70, Glade Spring, VA 24340.
Those wishing to express sympathy online may do so by visiting www.farrisfuneralservice,com and signing the online guestbook.
The family of Ruth Gates Sheffield is being cared for by Farris Funeral Service & Crematory, 427 East Main Street, Abingdon, VA 24210 (276-623-2700).
Mrs. Sheffield was born in Glade Spring, VA a daughter of the late John Walter Gates and Alta Moore Gates. Ruth was committed to her extended family, her church, numerous community organizations, and the students that she taught over the course of nearly 40 years. Education was her passion and lifelong commitment. In her career as an educator, she taught Mathematics and retired as a Math Supervisor for Washington County Public Schools and Smyth County Public Schools. She was a graduate of Radford College with a Bachelor's Degree in Education, followed by a Master's Degree in Education from the University of Virginia.
Ruth was a longtime member of the Glade Spring Baptist Church where she served as an officer, a Sunday School teacher, and a Bible School teacher. She was a member of the Women's Mission Union and the Rebecca Wheeler Circle.
Ruth served on the Board of the Highlands Community College, and as President of the Auxiliary Board at Johnston Memorial Hospital. She was a well-known and loved hospital volunteer. She was the recipient of the French Moore, Jr. Award as the Outstanding Volunteer of the Year of the Virginia Highlands Festival in 2006. As a lover of art and history, she gave her time to the Arts Depot and the Fields-Penn House Museum in Abingdon. Ruth was an avid reader and enjoyed the fellowship of the Book Lover's Club of Glade Spring. She served many years as their treasurer.
Mrs. Sheffield was preceded in death by her loving husband of 58 years, John F. Sheffield of Glade Spring, VA; brothers, John G. Gates of Naruna, VA and James F. Gates of Galax, VA; sisters: Evelyn G. Johnson of Johnson City, TN; Stella G. Scott of Bristol, TN; Eula G. Burnette of Glade Spring, VA; Janie G. Patterson of Wytheville, VA; niece, Karen Patterson Hudson; and nephews, Michael Burnette and Edwin Sheffield.
She is survived by a brother, George F. Gates and wife Janis Thomas Gates of Bedford, VA; nephews, James Gates, William Burnette, Alex Johnson, Derek Patterson, and David Sheffield; nieces, Pat Shelton, Louise Bryant, Rebecca Hubbard, Cindy Burnette, Sarah Snead, Sandra Horne, Susan Jones, Cathy Gates, Brenda Estess, Debbie Iverson, and Sylvia Gerlach.
Visitation with the family will be held from 1:00-3:30 p.m. Sunday, April 6, 2014 at Glade Spring Baptist Church. A funeral service will be held at 3:30 p.m. Sunday at the church with the Reverend Dennis Blazier and Dr. Karl Pittard officiating. Interment will follow at Mount Rose Cemetery where William Burnette, James Gates, Alex Johnson, Derek Patterson, Jeff Shelton, and Luther Shelton will serve as pallbearers. George F. Gates will serve as an honorary pallbearer.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Washington County Public Schools Education Foundation, 812 Thompson Drive, Abingdon, VA 24210, or to the Washington County Public Library System Glade Spring Branch, P.O. Box 70, Glade Spring, VA 24340.
Those wishing to express sympathy online may do so by visiting www.farrisfuneralservice,com and signing the online guestbook.
The family of Ruth Gates Sheffield is being cared for by Farris Funeral Service & Crematory, 427 East Main Street, Abingdon, VA 24210 (276-623-2700).
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Ruth Gates Sheffield, please visit our flower store.
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