Ruth Murphy Ward

91 year old Ruth Murphy Ward of Smithville died Sunday at DeKalb Community Hospital. She was a homemaker and a member of the Faith Chapel Church at Buffalo Valley. The funeral will be Wednesday at 11:00 a.m. at DeKalb Funeral Chapel. Steve Warren will officiate and burial will be in DeKalb Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be Tuesday from 10:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. and Wednesday from 9:00 a.m. until the time of the service at 11:00 a.m. A worship service will be held at 6:00 p.m. Tuesday at DeKalb Funeral Chapel. She was preceded in death by her husband, Carlos Bennie Ward; her parents, Melvin and Dixie Cantrell Murphy; brothers, Burgess, Tennis, and Arlin Murphy; and sisters, Ethel Johnson and Laura Bradford. Survivors include her children, Georgia Hanson of Rock Step, West Virginia; and Dorothy Turner, JoAnn Bradford, George M. Ward, and Bootsie Cash all of Smithville; and David H. Ward of Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Twenty seven grandchildren, thirty four great grandchildren, and a host of great great grandchildren also survive along with sisters, Virgie Murphy, Ona Runyon, and Imogene Blackburn all of West Virginia. Two brothers, Virgil and Joe Murphy both of Ohio. DeKalb Funeral Chapel is in charge of the arrangements. The family asks that donations be made to Faith Chapel Church Building Fund, in memory of Ms. Ruth, in lieu of flowers.