Ruth Ritter Fowlkes

Amory – Ruth Viola Ritter Fowlkes, 90, was welcomed into heaven on Wednesday, February 3, 2016, from Sanctuary Hospice House in Tupelo, Mississippi. She was born on August 18, 1925, in Amory, Mississippi to Mannering Leander Ritter and Odie Gerami Harrison Ritter. She was a graduate of Amory High School.

Ruth married James Buford Fowlkes on April 13, 1946. They moved to Powell, Wyoming, where she worked as a bookkeeper at the local lumber yard. After living in Powell for two years, they returned to Amory to make their home.

Ruth enjoyed being an active member of First Baptist Church of Amory, Pilot Club, Monroe County Home Extension Club, and the Trainmen’s Auxiliary. She worked for the Monroe County Soil Conservation Department, Amory City Clerk’s Office, and Glasgow Tax Office in Amory. Ruth also worked for H and R Block in Tupelo and Aberdeen. Later she took joy in working with the Amory Regional Museum until retirement.

Traveling with family and friends was a delight for Ruth. She enjoyed visiting, playing games, country music, and eating out. Ruth truly loved her family and was always excited to get to be with family and friends.

Survivors include her daughter, Julie Kaye Fowlkes Clayborne (Mike), Tupelo; one son, Keith Fowlkes, Albuquerque, NM; two granddaughters, Kayla Elsie Clayborne and Kelsey Leigh Clayborne Flanagan (Hunter), all of Nashville, TN; one brother, Thomas Ritter (Elise), Walnut, MS; and many special nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, James Buford Fowlkes, her parents, Leander and Odie Ritter, and one brother, Herbert Ritter.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 11 a.m., Friday, at EE Pickle Funeral Home in Amory with Dr. Allen Simpson officiating. Burial will follow in Masonic Cemetery. Pallbearers will be John McKinney, David Ritter, Mike Fowlkes, Larry Palmer, and Tommy Parish.

Visitation will be from 9:30 AM until the service hour Friday at the funeral home.

Memorials may be made to First Baptist Church, PO Box 540, Amory, MS, 38821 or to Sanctuary Hospice House, PO Box 2177, Tupelo, MS, 38803.

Memories and condolences may be shared with her family at EEPickleFuneralHome.com.