Ruth Idella Wilson

Ruth Idella Stuart Wilson left this world and entered her heavenly home on December 26, 2023 at the coveted age of 93. She was born around Nashville, AR to Emmett Roy Stuart and Mary Idella Willis Stuart on August 17, 1930. In her early life she picked cotton and peaches, worked in a knife factory as well as a basket factory.

She became a homemaker when she married the love of her life, Willie Bibb (Billy) Wilson at the age of 25. They were married on the 23^rd of December 1955. They had been married for 49 years until his passing in 2005.

She was an avid reader of all books. She loved vegetable and flower gardening. She would go out early in the mornings with her rubber boots on while the dew was still on the grass, all the while she was allergic to the grass. She always had a jigsaw puzzle, cross stitch, and embroidery projects going. She said she loved to use her hands. When she wasn’t crafting, she was fishing or walking in the pasture to check on the cows. She was competitive and loved a good game. She always won Chinese checkers. She even had a competition with her neighbor seeing who could make the best donuts. She was always up for an adventure, from sliding down a roof top and swinging on a rope across a barbed wire fence to going to Iowa with her granddaughter to tour a college.

At 87 she went on a 2 week trip to California, seeing all the natural wonders, the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Hoover Dam, Vegas, and the Grand Canyon. She even rode go carts and raced in a dodge challenger. She said she felt young, only her body was old. She gave the best hugs and we were never too old to sit on her lap. She was a member of First Baptist Church of Curtis. Those who knew her, knew she loved her family and her grandchildren greatly.

She is preceded in death by her parents, her husband Willie Bibb (Billy) Wilson, brother Reford (Louise) Stuart, sister Ruby (Adolph) Turbeville, sister Corine (Charles) Cooper, brother Curtis (Earline) Stuart, sister Mavis Stuart, and granddaughter Michelle Holder. She is survived by one sister in-law Earline Stuart, son Danny (Kay) Wilson, daughter Rhonda (Henry) Hill, and daughter Lisa (Nat) Shaddix. She has 10 grandchildren and 23 great grandchildren, 2 great great grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.

Services will be at Ruggles Wilcox Funeral Home. Visitation will be Friday, December 29^th from 6-8 pm and funeral services on Saturday, December 30^th at 1:00 pm.

Graveside service will be at the Weir Cemetery in Okolona following the funeral.

Pallbearers: Juan Santos, Jonathan Santos, Alex Shaddix, Ben Jimerson, Brycton Burk, Brittany Wilson

Honorary pallbearers: Jovani Santos, Larry Hill, William Holcomb, Mary Beth Santos

In lieu of flowers you may make donations to the Clark County Library in Arkadelphia.

Arrangements are entrusted to Ruggles Wilcox Funeral Home, 517 Clay Street, Arkadelphia, AR 71923.