Ruth B. Powell

Ruth B. Powell, 90, of Sojourner Rd. in Valdese died Monday, August 23, 2010 at Burke Palliative Care Center following a period of declining health. Born February 25, 1920 in Gaston County, she was a daughter of the late William Bess Black and Arizona Nolen Black. Ruth was a member of the Drexel First Church of God where she was the Sunday school teacher for the two to three year old class for 25 years. She was named Teacher of the Year in 1980, and the Teacher of the Week for Aug. 2, 1988. Ruth was an active member of W.C.G., and cooked breakfast for the graduates for many years. She helped with the church’s first bazaar 48 years ago, and enjoyed cooking, baking cakes, and making crafts for the bazaar. Ruth was a loving mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother.She is survived by daughters, Vivan Rhoney and husband, Henry, Linda Huffman, and Cathy Pritchard, all of Valdese; grandchildren, Marty Huffman, Mike Huffman and wife, Leigh Ann, Mark Huffman, Jan-Michael Pritchard and wife, Stephanie, and Derek Pritchard; great-grandchildren, Brandon Huss and wife, Leslie, Katie Huss, Ashlyn Huffman, Mia and Corey Richthammer, Kelly, Alex, Sarah, and Patrick Huffman, Alyssa, Alexxa, and Alyvia Pritchard; sister, Reba Baker and husband, Henry, of Drexel; step-mother, Dovie Black of Gastonia; and a half-brother, Billy Black of Gastonia.In addition to her parents, Ruth was preceded in death by her husband, Wilson Charles "Hezzie" Powell; sisters, Peggy Rhoney and Beatrice Horton; and a step-sister, Marcia Lyles.Funeral services will be held at 5:00 p.m., Thursday, August 26, 2010 at the Drexel First Church of God with the Reverends Don Smith, Larry McCaw, and Jerry Reynolds officiating. Burial will be at Burke Memorial Park. The family will receive friends Wednesday from 6:30 until 8:00 p.m. at Sossoman Funeral Home where the body will remain until placed in the church thirty minutes before the funeral hour. At other times, the family will be at the residence of Mike and Leigh Ann Huffman, Enon Rd. in Valdese. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that children’s shoes be purchased and donated to the Drexel First Church of God, or memorial contributions to Drexel First Church of God, PO Box 218, Drexel, NC 28619, or to Burke Hospice and Palliative Care, Inc., 1721 Enon Rd., Valdese, NC 28690.