Ruth Knight

Ruth Inman Knight Canton- Ruth Inman Knight, went to be with her heavenly father on Tuesday, December 16, 2014. A native of Haywood County and the oldest child, born on June 14, 1930, to the late Gilbert Raymond Inman and Delia Mae Inman. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Wallace S. Knight, who died on June 4, 2014, her daughter, Beverly Jo Bates Griffin, and her former husband, "Bud" Horace William Bates. Ruth graduated from Waynesville High School then went on to attend nursing school in September 1948 at Memorial Mission Hospital, which was a three year program. She graduated as a Registered Nurse. She completed post-graduate work in Obstetrics and gynecology at Harvard for five months at the famous Lying Inn Hospital. She spent a number of years as a clinical supervisor and taught OB/GYN in the training program at Memorial Mission. She helped deliver the second child of the Reverend Billy Graham. She spent her life as a nurse in various locations which included Houston County Hospital in Georgia and West Palm Beach, Florida and later retired in Canton in 1982. Ruth joined the Francis Cove Nondenominational Church in June 1947. She was baptized at the Waynesville First Baptist Church in 1948. At the time of her death, she was a long-time member of the Bethel Baptist Church of Canton. Ruth will be remembered as a loving mother and sister who never lost her zest for living, who was a shining light to all she met and loved, and who gave all she had to make others happy. She loved her family and her Lord. Her children say "She was the best mother anyone could have; she loved with her whole heart and gave with it as well". She is survived by daughter, Jennifer Lynn Turner, of Canton, and her two children, Penny Wolter and Justin Turner; son, William Henry "Hank" Bates, of Canton, and his daughter, Bridget Bates; daughter, Deborah Renee Bates, of Melbourne, Florida and her son, Tyler Bates and great-granddaughter, London Monroe Bates; her step-children, Wallace Stringfellow Knight Jr., of Warner Robbins, Georgia, Theresa Kay Allen, of Milledgeville, Georgia, Kristina Siebenmorgan, of Warner Robbins, Georgia, and Mary Ellen Miller, of Texas; a brother, Col (Ret) Gilbert Raymond "Ray" Inman and his wife Jan; and a special aunt Ruby Rogers, who was like a sister, and her children Janice and Carolyn. Funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 20, 2014 in the Canton Chapel of Wells Funeral Home with Reverend Dr. Roy Kilby officiating. Burial will follow at Bethel Community Cemetery. The family will receive friends from noon until 2:00 p.m. prior to the service at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Bethel Baptist Church at 5868 Pigeon Road, Canton, NC 28716.

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