Dr. Ruth W. Stanford

Tupelo- Ruth Wood Stanford, 80, the devoted mother and children’s education advocate, died Saturday, May 13, 2023, at North Mississippi Medical Center. She was born Bonnie Ruth Wood on April 26, 1943, in Tyronza, Arkansas to William Edward Wood and Audra Conley Wood.

Ruth and her family moved to Corinth at a young age but soon made Tupelo their permanent home. On December 27, 1963, she married John A. Stanford, and they shared 50 years before his death in April 2014.

Children’s education was Ruth’s passion. She was a gifted and spirited teacher that aspired to share her love for education with children of all ages. In 1961, Ruth graduated from Tupelo High School and earned her Bachelor's in Education from Mississippi University for Women and her Ph.D. from The University of Mississippi.
Dr. Ruth spent 24 years with Tupelo Public School District at Thomas Street Elementary as a Teacher, Media Specialist, and Interim Principal. Following TPSD, she spent ten years with Saltillo Elementary as their Principal. Upon her retirement, she continued with North Mississippi Education Consortium as a Principal Mentor and taught online classes with Blue Mountain College.

For the past 23 years, Ruth has worked diligently with Raymond Trice and Company Antiques Mall in Verona. Ruth and her husband took their love for antiques and partnered, along with some of their close friends, the well-known Antique Mall in Verona. She enjoyed the buying trips and time spent with her husband and their business partners.

Soon following her marriage to John, Ruth joined Auburn Baptist Church. During her 60-year membership, she has extensively worked in the Children’s Ministry, which she was instrumental in beginning. Dr. Ruth extended her passions for children and education and Her Savior. Dr. Ruth left a lasting legacy for generations.

Ruth was extremely involved in her family’s lives; she especially enjoyed attending her grandchildren’s functions. She often spent time outdoors with her flowers gardening. She was an avid Ole Miss fan, known to watch any and all sports she could.

Ruth was survived by her son, Allen Stanford, and his wife, Jane, and their two children, Trey Stanford and his wife, Shelby, of Oxford, and Alyssa Stanford of Nashville. She is also survived by her daughter Angie Davis of Starkville, and her children, Madison Claire Watson and her husband, Chase, of Tupelo, and Ashton Nicole Davis and her significant other, Brae Sullivan, of Tuscaloosa, and their father, Tracy Davis of Hernando. Dr. Ruth leaves behind one sister, Cathy Floyd of Tupelo; a host of nieces and nephews; one grand-dog; and five great-grand-dogs.

In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents; two siblings, Harold Wood and his wife, Margie, of North Liberty, Indiana, Jo Haas and her husband, Wayne, of Tupelo; and brother-in-law, Curtis Floyd.

Visitation will be 9 a.m. until service time Wednesday, May 17, 2023, at Auburn Baptist Church.

Services honoring her life will be 1 p.m. Wednesday, May 17, 2023, at Auburn Baptist Church with Bro. Bob O’Neal officiating. Graveside will follow at Auburn Cemetery. Pegues Funeral Directors is in charge of the arrangements.

Pallbearers will be Trey Stanford, Chase Watson, Brae Sullivan, Michael Dickerson, Dr. Terry Miller, Mac Gregory, Andy Gregory, Bert Gregory, Kenny Gregory, and Neil Gregory.

Memorials may be made to Auburn Baptist Church, children’s ministry, 1138 Road 931, Tupelo, MS 38804.

Expressions of sympathy and fond memories may be made at PeguesFuneralHome.com.