Ruth Dickens

FUQUAY-VARINA- Dorothy Ruth Ross Godwin Dickens, 97, passed away peacefully of natural causes in her sleep at her son’s home (Frank Godwin) in Fuquay Varina, North Carolina. She was born October 8, 1925 in her grandparents’ (Katie Elizabeth and Eddie Stevens) home on Auburn Knightdale Church Road between Garner and Raleigh, N.C.

A funeral service will be held on Tuesday, October 18th at 11:00 am in the chapel of Bryan-Lee Funeral Home, Angier. Burial will follow at Wake Chapel Memorial Gardens, Fuquay-Varina. The family will receive friends from 5:00-8:00 pm on Monday, October 17th at Bryan-Lee Funeral Home, Angier. If possible, it is requested that no small children attend the visitation and service for Ruth.

Ruth was preceded in death by her parents as follows: mother, Beatrice Elizabeth Ross in 1996 and father, Bryant Rufus Ross in 1972, both of Cary, N.C. She was also predeceased by her brother, Marvin Ross (Myrtle) of Wake Forest, N.C. and her sister, Elsie Pearce (Bob) of Cary, N.C. Additionally, she was preceded by her daughter-in-law, Cindy Cates Godwin (Frank) whom Ruth adored very much. She was also preceded by her loving and caring husband Joseph (Joe) Delano Dickens, Sr. M.Sgt. (U.S. Army) on December 16, 2020.

Ruth is survived by three children; Donna Elizabeth Hudson of Marion, N.C, Robert Earl Godwin Jr. (Kum Sook) of Shanghai, China, and Bryant Franklin (Frankie) Godwin of Fuquay Varina, N.C. Ruth is also survived by seven grandchildren; Michael Boyce of Lake Anna, Virginia, Farrah Rosenthal (Josh) of Hillsdale, New Jersey, Natalie Doebler (Matt) of St. Louis, Missouri, Levi Godwin (Leslie) of Rossville, Georgia, Robert “Bo” Godwin (Missy) of Lusby, Maryland, Robert Godwin of Shanghai, China and Sonya Godwin Dang (Lan) of Chula Vista, California. Last but not least, Ruth is also survived by nine great-grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren, several nieces, nephews and cousins.

Ruth or “Ruthie” was a supportive military wife during both of her marriages. In the 1960’s Ruth was a divisional territorial sales manager with AVON responsible for sales territories and representatives in portions of Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C. She was co-founder and owner of a Montgomery Wards retail catalog store in Southern Maryland, Prince Frederick, Calvert County from 1963 to 1969 with her first husband Robert E. Godwin Sr.

In the 1970’s Ruth went to work for the Wake County Tax Office and retired in the 1980’s. She lived in Fuquay Varina with her husband Joe for 23 years and both previously resided in Raleigh, N.C. since their marriage in 1978. Prior to that, she lived in various states and foreign countries due to military assignments. Ruth was a Sunday School teacher (seniors’ class) at Piney Grove Baptist Church located West of Fuquay Varina for several years. She was also a past member of The Eastern Star.

As an avid book reader in her earlier years, her favorite book was the Holy Bible. Ruth played piano when she was a young woman; A musical attribute that was acquired by many members of her extended family. She enjoyed gospel and country music very much. Her favorite gospel hymn was “In the Garden” and favorite country song was “A White Sport Coat and Pink Carnation” by Marty Robbins.

Ruth was a cat lover all her life. While attending the Old Cary High School in the 1940’s she always had a cat as a companion. Her favorite cat was a gray and white cat named “Smokey Joe” whom she had as a pet for over 17 years. Her previous cat, “J.D.” was coal black and a member of the family for 19-20 years. In addition to cats, Ruth and Joe had a Cockatiel bird named “Tinkie” for 21 plus years. Tinkie would ride on Ruth’s shoulders (or Joe’s) when they used to go to Salter Path for weekend retreats. Tinkie always sparked up conversations with strangers as they strolled the Emerald Coast Beaches of North Carolina.

In lieu of flowers the family request donations to the SPCA of Wake County or St. Jude Children's Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee.