Ruth Harder Turnbow

Ms. Ruth Harder Turnbow, 102, of Stanleytown, VA, formerly of Linden passed away Sunday, September 13, 2020. She was born May 7, 1918, in Linden to the late James Andrew and Amanda Ardella Victoria Edwards Harder. She is also preceded in death by her husband Ward Turnbow and her siblings, Raymond Harder, Faye Harder Warren, William Albert Harder, and Lloyd Noah Harder.

Ms Ruth graduated from Linden High School and attended George Peabody College for Teachers, which later became part of Vanderbilt University. During World War II, Ruth began her teaching career which extended for eight years. She returned to the family farm, a designated Century Farm, to help her father. She became a businesswoman who owned and operated a local shoe store for many years with her husband in Hohenwald, Tennessee.

Ms. Ruth was a long-time member of Warren United Methodist Church in Linden, Tennessee and a member of the Stanleytown United Methodist Church in Stanleytown, VA.

While on the farm, Ruth enjoyed raising chickens and ducks, driving tractors and planting vegetables and flowers. At the age of 91, Ruth moved to Virginia to be closer to her beloved boys, her brothers, Albert and Lloyd. She had raised these two as her children after their mother died. The siblings enjoyed picnics, birthday parties, Thanksgiving dinners and Christmas celebrations. In 2015, Ruth was selected to be cook of the week. She was renowned for her jellies and jams. Ruth had recipes published in cookbooks in Tennessee and Virginia. She was also famed for her hand stitched quilts which she would gift to family members and friends.

Ms. Ruth is survived by eight nieces and nephews, great nieces and nephews, along with a host of other loving family members and many friends.

The family asks in lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Ruth’s memory to the Perry County Genealogy Room of Perry County Historical Society whose address is 104 College Avenue, Linden, Tennessee 37096. Donations may be made to Stanleytown United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 206, Stanleytown, Virginia 24168.

While attending services for Ms. Ruth Harder Turnbow, please consider the following guidelines:

* Maintain 6 feet between yourself and the next closest person;
* Refrain from hugs and handshakes;
* When you sneeze or cough, use your elbow to cover your nose and mouth;
* Wash your hands often;
* Avoid touching your face; and
* Minimize time spent in places where people gather.
Thank you for your thoughtfulness and consideration.

To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.