Obituary of Ruth Eleanor White Ellyson
Ruth Eleanor White Ellyson, age 91, of Buckhannon and formerly Fairmont and Vienna, WV, passed away peacefully on Thursday, July 1, 2021, at Serenity Care in Buckhannon, WV surrounded by her family.
Ruth was born on September 8, 1929, in Weston, WV. She was the daughter of the late Ora Ellis and Odessa Maude Sallaz White. In addition to her parents, she was preceded by her husband, Walter Ellyson and three brothers, Richard, Stanley (infant) and Robert White and one sister, Rebecca Minard.
Graduating from Weston High School in 1947 and Glenville State College May 28, 1951 with a Bachelor of Arts in Education Degree with concentrations in math and science, she held a lifelong love of teaching her children and grandchildren. It was at Glenville State College that Ruth met her husband of 48 years, Walter James Ellyson, who preceded her in death in 1999. Together, they had three children, Nancy (Tom) Moore, Worthington, WV; Jeff (Annette) Ellyson, Carolina, WV and Lisa (Robert) Phillips, Buckhannon, WV. In addition to her children, she is survived by nine grandchildren, Harmony (Ben) Garletts, Caleb (Brandy) Moore, Megan (Charles) Pethtel, Rachel Ellyson, Leah Ellyson, Mitch (Meg) Stocking, Jared Stocking, Robin Phillips and Jamie Phillips, eleven great grandchildren, two great-great grandchildren, as well as many nieces and nephews.
Ruth was a kind and gentle spirit who loved the Lord, her family and life. She was a homemaker in every sense of the word and often welcomed others into her home. Until her move to Buckhannon, she was active in her church (Central United Methodist Church) with Bible Study, Young at Heart, Lydia Ruth Group. She also enjoyed the Morning Gardeners Garden Club. She was an accomplished seamstress and enjoyed reading, traveling, and spending time with her family.
The family requests memorial contributions be made in Ruth’s memory to the Alzheimer’s Association, West Virginia Chapter, Morgantown Regional Office, 1299 Pineview Dr., Suite 3, Morgantown, WV 26505.
The family will receive friends at Ford Funeral Home, R.C. Jones Chapel, 1410 Country Club Road, Fairmont, WV 26554, on Tuesday, July 6, 2021, from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. and on Wednesday, July 7, 2021, from 9 a.m. until 10 a.m. The funeral service will be held in the funeral home on Wednesday, July 7, 2021, at 10 a.m. with Reverend D.D. Meighen, Reverend Chris White, and Reverend Brad Bennett officiating. A committal service will follow at Freemansburg Cemetery in Lewis County. Online condolences may be made to the family at www.fordfuneralhomes.com.
