Obituary

RUTH EVELYN O'BRIEN (nee Smith)
(January 20, 1937 - May 5, 2014)

RUTH EVELYN O'BRIEN (nee Smith), 77, of Westerville, Ohio, passed away peacefully in her home May 5, 2014. Ruth was born January 20, 1937, the daughter of the late Clarence and Virgie Smith of Apple Grove, W.Va. She is preceded in death by brothers Warren and Pete Smith, and by grandson Jason Smith. She is survived by two sons and daughters-in-law, Rick and Juanita Smith of Huntington, W.Va., and Todd and Adrienne Hager of Westerville, Ohio; daughter Cherrie Nichols of Jacksonville, Fla.; nine grandchildren, Gary, Tina, Selena, Krystal, Charlie, Michael, Sherrie, David and Daniel; 16 great-grandchildren, Brittany, Shannon, Trenton, Logan, Laken, Rielly, Brodee, Laney, Kiya, Tamiya, Jeremiya, Zachariya, Aidan, Kylee, Devin and Bella; and one great- great-grandchild, Braelynn. Ruth is also survived by four sisters, Elizabeth Black, Wanda Vance, Gail Roy, Donna Smith; two brothers, Clarence (Junior) and Michael Smith; and numerous nieces and nephews. Ruth will be remembered for her many years devoted to caring for disabled children and adults and for being a founding member of the Lake Waynoka Chapel in Lake Waynoka, Ohio. It has been said that an entire wall of the chapel was funded by bake sales of Ruth's renowned fudge! Services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 10, 2014, at the Wallace Funeral Home and Chapel, 1159 Central Avenue, Barboursville. Burial will be in Ridgelawn Memorial Park, Huntington, W.Va. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, May 9, 2014, at the Wallace Funeral Home and Chapel, Barboursville.