Ruth Catherine Sample

Ruth Catherine Sample (née Robinson) was born in Couch, MO to Elmer Atlee and Nellie Lee Robinson (née Alford) on February 8, 1932. She departed this life on February 18, 2025.
 
Ruth’s childhood was spent in the beautiful Ozark mountain region near Alton and Thayer MO. She grew up helping on the farm along with her siblings Harry, Waif, Elmer and Billy. One sister, Iona, died at the age of two, and Ruth is preceded in death by both parents and all of her siblings.
 
As one who enjoyed learning, Ruth completed high school at the age of seventeen and began her teaching career in Northern MO. She boarded with local families and taught during the school year while attending college in Springfield during summers. In the rural school system where she taught, schools were one and two rooms, and students ranged from five to about thirteen years in age. Her years teaching provided numerous unique experiences that informed her values throughout life.
 
In 1953 Ruth married the love of her life, James Rome Sample, Sr. The two became the devoted parents of James R., Jr, (Donna), Daniel V. (Diana), Karen R. (Mark Schaeffer), David A. (Cecily), R. Joseph, Beth (Benjamin Joson), Stephen L., Trent M. (Kathy). The descendants of James R. and Ruth Sample now include grandchildren Alissa (Brandon) , Ashley (Bill), Tiffany, Rachelle (Nick), Megan (Henry), Kristen (Brent), Philip, Emily, Zachary, Makenney (Ethan), Michaelyn, Xander, Ella and great grandchildren Ashlynn, Addison, Frankie, Noah, Bennett, Elena, Caroline, Catherine, Maia, Emma, Ethan, Anna, Julie, Ben, Daylin, Reed, and Barrett.
 
Throughout her adult life, Ruth was committed to her faith and remained an active member of Faith Apostolic Church until she entered nursing care in 2024. For many years she taught Sunday School and served as Church secretary and treasurer.
 
Ruth was a skilled home maker who, along with her husband, raised a large garden from which they canned and preserved a significant portion of the family’s food. She sewed many of her own and her children’s clothing and continued to enjoy quilting, crocheting and doll making well into her later years. Her collections of pretty dishes, stationary and puzzles reflect her joy in sharing meals and leisure time with her family. She read daily, often reading aloud to her children for hours, and maintained an interest in family history and genealogy. She was actively involved in the Alford Family Foundation, eagerly awaiting each monthly newsletter. Ruth wrote and published a book about her mother’s experience raising a family alone after the death of Ruth’s father in 1942.
 
Ruth was fiercely frugal and non-materialistic, she valued people over things and taught her children and students to always be kind even when others were not. She focused on her love for family and valued old friends while making new ones wherever she went. She nurtured close friendships with those in her church and community, and cherished her sisters and brothers-in-law, nieces, nephews and their descendants remembering everyone’s birthdays and other special life milestones. Her collection of photo albums reflect the joys she shared with many during church conferences and events, travels with her husband and in-laws after retirement, and simple daily moments spent with those she loved.
 
Funeral services will begin at 2:00 PM on Friday, February 21, 2025 at Hughes Funeral Home in Paducah with Rev. Brad Robinson, Rev. Jimmy Eaves and Rev. Doug Stevens officiating. Burial will follow at Marshall County Memory Gardens in Benton, KY.
 
Visitation will be held from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM on Friday at the funeral home.
 
Donations in her memory may be made to: Bright Life Farms, a nonprofit group home for adults with disabilities at 10200 Farmersville Rd, Princeton, KY 42445 or Alford American Family Association, AAFA Treasurer, 11115 Fall Breeze Dr, Houston, TX 77064-4817.
 
You may leave a message of sympathy or light a memorial candle at www.hughesfuneral.com.
 
Hughes Funeral Home of Paducah is in charge of arrangements.