It was snowing on October 30, 1954, the day Ruth Ann Walker Rose was born to Robert and Nell Walker at the “old” Guntersville Hospital. Ruth was the youngest of 4 sisters, all raised on a farm in Baileyton, Alabama. She attended Baileyton Junior High School and graduated from Fairview High School in 1973. Just weeks after graduating high school, she married her childhood sweetheart Billy Don Walker. Together they had 2 children, Bridgette Walker and Thor Leif Walker. Billy Don was killed in a helicopter crash in 1984. Ruth married Mickey Rodgers of Cullman, Alabama in 1993. Ruth and Mickey were married until Mickey’s death in 2001. Wanda Walker Clay convinced Ruth that she should be introduced to Bill Rose of Arab, Alabama. Ruth and Bill married in 2005. Ruth worked and served in many roles professionally throughout her lifetime, from local grocery store clerk to the Clerk of the City of Cullman. She also served her local community as the Clerk for the Town of Baileyton. Ruth was an avid volunteer, these roles included everything from the original Neighborhood Watch program to the current Back Pack Feeding Ministry Program. You could often find her serving breakfast at Baileyton Methodist Church on Friday mornings. Ruth bravely battled brain cancer before passing on from this life at the age of 68 years on March 23, 2023.
Ruth is survived by her husband Bill Rose, daughter Bridgette Walker, three grandsons Jake Chandler, Cort Chandler, and Rex Chandler, and three sisters Joan Weaver, Jane Brown (Larry), and Rhonda Ryan. She was proceeded in death by her parents Robert and Nell Walker, husbands Billy Don Walker and Mickey Rodgers, and son Thor Leif Walker.
A visitation is scheduled for Monday, March 27, 2023 from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Arab Heritage Memorial Chapel. Services, officiated by Pastor Deborah Moon, will begin at 2:00 p.m. Interment will follow at Baileyton Cemetery.
Arrangements entrusted to Arab Heritage Memorial Chapel.
