Ms. Ruth Marie Smallwood Chastain Ralph, age 88, passed away at her home on Wednesday, August 23, 2023. Ruth was a lifetime resident of the Ruth Community of Arab in Marshall County, Alabama. She was born April 8, 1935, daughter of Silas Smallwood and Maude Ione Hall Smallwood. Ruth was employed by and retired from Sanmina/SCI where she worked on the assembly line. Ruth was fortunate to find love twice in her life. She was married to her first love, Ray Chastain, who passed away in 1983. She and Ray were blessed with two sons and two daughters. Ruth was double blessed when she met and married her second love, Doc Ralph. The two of them had many happy years together until his death in 2013. She was of the Baptist faith and an active member of Eddy Baptist Church.
Ruth enjoyed an active and busy life. She was passionate about flowers and plants. She and Doc owned and operated Ruth and Doc’s Greenhouse and sold those beloved plants to the public. She loved to travel and would visit in the Great Smokey Mountains as often as possible. Ruth was a collector! Her doll collection is remarkable. She loved decorating for Christmas and her accumulated decorations were proudly displayed every year. But most of all, Ruth was passionate about her family and friends. She considered her children, grandchildren and extended family as the most important part of her life.
Ruth’s family members left behind to cherish memories of her include: son, Kenny Chastain and David Chastain (Shirley); daughters, Carolyn Cooper and Annette Duncan; grandchildren, Tabitha Chastain, Josh Chastain, Amanda Chastain, Kristi Wilks, Jeremy Wilks, Russell Cooper, and Susan Brooks, and 15 great grandchildren.
Family preceding Ruth in death include: her parents, Silas and Maude Smallwood, husbands, Ray Chastain and Doc Ralph, brothers, Carl Smallwood, Fred Smallwood, and Cecil Smallwood; sisters, Louise Christian and Ruby Beal.
The visitation and funeral service for Ruth will be at Arab Heritage Memorial Chapel on Friday, August 25, 2023. The visitation will be from 12:00 noon until 2:00 p.m. The funeral service will follow the visitation beginning at 2:00. Brother Mike Shirley and Brother Randy L. Blakely will be officiating.
Pallbearers escorting Ruth to her final resting place in Mt Oak/Ruth Cemetery will be: John Ray Wilks, Josh Chastain, Lawson Rowe, Ethan Rowe, Russell Cooper, Jeremy Wilks and Kristi Wilks.
The family will welcome either flowers or donations to Shepherd’s Cove Hospice, 408 Martling Road, Albertville, Al 35951.
