Ruth Shipman

Canton – Ruth Magdalena Dotson Shipman, 101, passed to her eternal home on Monday, August 15, 2022 at Haywood Regional Medical Center.

Ruth was a native and lifelong resident of Haywood County and a daughter of the late Farida Foster and Jennie Lee Green Dotson.  In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by the love of her life, Arthur Hardin Shipman, who passed in 2007 after 61 years of marriage; two brothers, Thomas and Troy Dotson.

Ruth taught school in Haywood County for 32 years, 30 in active classes and two in volunteer work.  She graduated from Clyde School in 1938 and pursued a lifetime of study for her profession.  After high school, she continued at Mars Hill Junior College, Carson-Newman College, and at the age of 49, in 1970, she received her master’s in education from Western Carolina University.  She enjoyed her work with junior high students best and helped them prepare for life with her own belief as a teacher to be a Christian with ideals, in love for her Lord and country.

Ruth was a faithful member of Bethel Baptist Church.  There she served in many areas, her favorite being Sunday school and playing the church organ from 1961 until 2016.  Many thanks for the love of her church toward her.

In addition, she thanks some of her caregivers:  her Sunday School class, Ronnie Heatherly, Rex and Annette Griffith and Bill and Earleen Holbrook, church deacon.  A great and special thanks to all others and a special niece, Betty Dotson, who cared for her in her home in Sylva many times.

She is survived by several cousins, nieces, nephews, friends, and an abundance of students that she taught over the years.

A graveside service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, August 20, 2022 at Bon-A-Venture Cemetery on Old Clyde Road with the Reverend Dr. Roy Kilby and Reverend Dennis Ammons officiating.  Anyone wishing to pay their respects and sign the register book may do so anytime on Friday from 9:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. at Wells Funeral Home in Canton.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Bethel Baptist Church, 5868, Pigeon Road, Canton, NC  28716 or to one’s favorite charity.

The care of Mrs. Shipman has been entrusted to Wells Funeral Home of Canton and an online memorial register is available at “obituaries” at www.wellsfuneralhome.com.