Alma Ruth (Campbell) Cox of Elizabethton celebrated her 90th birthday on January 28, 2018. She passed away on February 20, 2018 at her home, with her daughters and family by her side. She was preceded in death by her husband, Walter Kenneth Cox; her parents, John B. Campbell and Mattie Range Campbell; brothers and sister-in-law, Vane Campbell, Selba (Hilda) Campbell, Max Campbell and Lewis Campbell; granddaughter, Alexandria Horton; and great-granddaughter, Isabella Chambers.
Alma Ruth was married to Walter for 49 years prior to his death in November 2002. She was the proud mother of three daughters, Janet (Devoid) Wright, Jeanna Shields and Jane (John) Oakley. She took great pride and joy in her nine grandchildren, Tera Wright, Megan Wright and Chelsea Wright; Heather (George) Shields Walker, Holly (Jamie Chambers) Shields, Hayley (BJ) Shields Miller and Hunter Shields; Elizabeth Oakley and Oliva Oakley; and her eight great-grandchildren, Alena Little; Nicholas Chambers, Noelle Chambers, Nahla Chambers and Natalyn Chambers; Jackson Miller, Mattie Miller and Eva Miller. She is also survived by brother Gene (Carrie) Campbell, Marion Campbell, Charlotte Campbell, and numerous nieces and nephews.
Alma Ruth graduated from Happy Valley High School in 1946. She was the class valedictorian and cheerleader. She began her professional life as a receptionist at The Franklin Clinic. Then she worked as a clerical staff member at Bemberg until 1963, when she became a full-time mother.
During her lifetime, she was a devoted wife and the most loving mother and grandmother. Her sweet disposition and smile is what will be remembered and cherished by all who knew her. Her numerous talents included cooking, gardening, sewing, painting, knitting, and crafts of all kinds. She was a member of the Tuesday Painting Group for over 40 years. She was a baptized believer of Jesus Christ and was a member of Big Springs Church of Christ, where she was the pianist and served as the president of the Sunshine Circle. In 1954, she and her husband became members of First Christian Church, Elizabethton, until her death. During her membership she served in various capacities in the Fidelis Sunday School Class and Women’s Union.
The family would like to thank all of the nursing staff that took such wonderful care of our Mom the last couple of weeks from Amedisys Home Health Care, Amedisys Hospice Care (Emily and Jerry) and some very special people from J.C. Internal Medicine (Melissa, Martha, Tracy and Carol), Dr. Haddadin’s Group, Dr. Mills’s Group and Dr. Farrow’s Group.
Services for Alma Ruth will be at 2 p.m. Sunday, February 25, at Memorial Funeral Chapel with Michael Klaus, minister, officiating. Visitation will be from 12:30 to 2 p.m. before the service. Interment will be at Happy Valley Memorial Park following the service. Pallbearers are John Oakley, BJ Miller, George Walker, Jamie Chambers, Megan Wright, Chelsea Wright, Aaron Miller, Hunter Shields, Nicholas Chambers and Jackson Miller. In lieu of flowers, the family would like for you to send donations to your favorite charity in honor of Alma Ruth. Condolences may be sent to the family at our website: www.memorialfcelizabethton.com.
Memorial Funeral Chapel is serving the Cox family.