Birth Date: 09/21/1923
Deceased Date: 08/30/2018
Ruth Barnes Andrews, 94, passed away on Thursday, August 30, in Smithfield. She was born on September 21, 1923 in Johnston County. She was the youngest daughter and last surviving child of the late Arthur O. and Aurelia Parker Barnes of Four Oaks. Her siblings were William A. Barnes, Seth O. Barnes, Annie Barnes Lassiter and Eula Barnes Lassiter. Ruth was the widow of William “Bill” Augustus Andrews, Jr., who died in 1985. Ruth and her beloved Bill met while students at Louisburg College in 1943 and married in 1944.
Ruth is survived by her daughter, Ellen Andrews Boone and husband, David, of Raleigh, and son, Arthur W. Andrews and wife, Rosa, of Smithfield. Ruth is also survived by four grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Ruth was employed with Medical Center Pharmacy in Smithfield for many years. She also worked part-time in later years at Johnston Community College managing the switchboard.
Ruth was well known in the area as a talented artist. She enjoyed painting family portraits and landscapes. She and her husband, Bill, were accomplished ballroom dancers during their years together. She played amateur golf in her active years and followed professional golf in her later years. Her other hobbies included playing bridge, travelling, and garden club activities. She had been a member of the First Baptist Church in Smithfield for many years and enjoyed attending her Sunday School class. Ruth was a member of the Johnston Memorial Hospital Ladies Auxiliary having over 1500 hours of volunteer service.
Her funeral will be held at Parrish Funeral Home on Tuesday, Sept. 4, at 2pm. Visitation will be at the funeral home at 1pm. The family would like to thank the staff at Smithfield Manor for their kind and caring attention to Ruth during her last six months.
