Ruby Middleton

Tupelo - Ruby Lee Middleton, 79, died Monday, May 5, 2008, at The Sanctuary Hospice House after a brief illness. A native of Itawamba County, she was born September 25, 1928 to Fred L. and Mishia Stevens Ruth. Along with her husband, Durward Middleton, she was co-owner of Weatherall Printing and later founded Middleton Office Supply until they sold it in 1978. She enjoyed flower gardening and traveling with her family. She was a longtime and faithful member of Harrisburg Baptist Church where she worked in the nursery for many years.

Services will be 2:30 p.m. Wednesday at The Jefferson Street Chapel of W. E. Pegues with Rev. David Langerfeld and Dr. Forrest Sheffield officiating. Burial will be in Lee Memorial Park.

Survivors include her daughter, Debra Smith and husband, Hamp; her granddaughter, Amelia Smith Murphree and husband, Will; her grandson, Wade Hampton Smith and wife, Ginny; her great-granddaughter, Emma Lee Morrison, all of Tupelo; a special (adopted) granddaughter, Carley Carruth of Belden; her sister, Betty Jean Craddock and husband, Tony, of Tupelo and Springwood, Australia; four brothers, John H. Ruth of Mantee, Deward H. (Red) Ruth, of Fulton, James H. Ruth of Waukeegan, Il., Bob Ruth and wife, Wren, of Louisville.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Durward Middleton who died February 29, 2000; four brothers, William (Bill) Ruth, Lewis Ruth, George W. Ruth, Sr., and Dow Ruth; and a sister, Luna Ruth.
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Pallbearers will be Gary Walker, Jim Beane, Tommy Carruth, Jason Ruth, Josh Ruth, Jordan Beane, Bill Middleton, and Charles McCloud.

Visitation will be 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Sanctuary Hospice House, PO Box 2177, Tupelo, MS 38803.