Ruth Goodwin Rickard, 95, passed away peacefully at her home on Friday, April 26, 2024. Visitation will be on Tuesday, April 30, 2024, 12:00-2:00 p.m. with funeral to follow at Elkins Funeral Home Chapel. Interment will be at Tri-Cities Memorial Gardens. Officiating will be Rev. Dr. Yohan Hong and Rev. Wayne Williams.
Mrs. Rickard was a devoted wife for 52 years and a loving mother and grandmother. She was a long-time member of North Wood United Methodist Church, attending and serving in the Fidelis Class.
She retired after 27 years from Kmart. She always worked and served, putting others before herself. She started various Girl Scout Troops in Florence, served as various PTO officers, was a part of the Sweetwater Reunion Committee, and she and Nate were active members of the Coffee Athletic Boosters Club for many years. She was also an avid Alabama fan.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Nathan Homer “Nate” Rickard; her parents W. O. and Lillian Goodwin; her seven siblings; son-in-law Jimmy Dowdy; and grandson Curt Dowdy.
She is survived by her children Debbie Dowdy, Billy Rickard, Bobby Rickard (Donna) and Beth Rickard all of Florence; Anna James (Perry) of Muscle Shoals; her grandchildren Caitlin Gonzalez (Danny) of California; Andrew Rickard of Florence; Christopher James and Brittany Gautney (Andrew) of Muscle Shoals; great-grandchild Elizabeth Gautney; and a number of nieces and nephews.
Pallbearers will be Andrew Rickard, Christopher James, Tim Redding, Daniel Freeman, Chris Bevis and Samuel Salter.
The family would like to thank Enhabit Home Health and Hospice for their excellent care of their mother.
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to North Wood United Methodist Church.
