Ruth Winchester Beaty was born April 30, 1919 in Stearns, Kentucky to the late Edward and Bertha (Stephens) Winchester. She graduated from Stearns High School in 1937 and attended beauty school shortly thereafter. Ruth later moved to Birmingham, Alabama and then to Oakridge, Tennessee. While working in Oakridge, she met John Beaty, and they were married on September 9, 1944. John and Ruth were blessed with seventy-one wonderful years of a loving marriage and two daughters, Rebecca Lynn and Deborah Ann.

John and Ruth lived in many locations throughout their married life as John was transferred several times while working for the Quaker Oat's Company and later a division of the Continental Grain Company. For thirty-five years, they lived in the Chicagoland area and during this time welcomed their three grandchildren, Patrick Edmunds, Megan (Edmunds) Abad, and Sarah (Dean) Shetler into their family.

Throughout her life, Ruth was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and friend. She was a woman of faith, caring deeply for her family with compassion and wisdom. Her desire was always to please her husband and children and selflessly served them. She enjoyed crossword puzzles, sewing, bridge club, reading, music, and serving in many different church roles and activities. Raised in the Southern Baptist church, her family faithfully attended whenever the "doors were open" which provided a solid foundation for her marriage to John, the son of a Southern Baptist minister. Ruth was not an avid sports fan like her late husband except when the University of Kentucky was playing the University of Louisville, John's al ma mater. The Winchesters were loyal University of Kentucky fans!

Ruth went home to be with her Lord and Savior on July 8, 2024. She is survived by daughters, Rebecca Edmunds, Deborah (Michael) Doty; grandchildren, Patrick Edmunds, Megan (Ron) Abad, Sarah (Ethan) Shetler; great-grandchildren, Ryan, Erin, and Braden Abad and Mack Shetler; a sister-in-law, Lula Winchester; and many nieces and nephews. Along with her parents, she is preceded in death by her husband, John Beaty; five brothers, Augustus Winchester, Edward Winchester, Ray Winchester, James Winchester, and Norman Winchester; and four sisters, Blanche Swain, Elsie Wallace, Edwinna Morgan, and Virginia Ann Duncan.  She will be deeply missed, yet we praise God for the joy she is now experiencing with Christ Jesus our Lord.

A private family service will be held on Saturday, July 27, 2024.  Memorials may be given in Ruth's name to The Good Shepherd Fund at The Village in Indianola.