B. Ruth Smith

B. Ruth Smith, 84, formerly of LeClaire, Iowa, died Friday, May 27, 2016 at Eagle Point Nursing & Rehabilitation Center in Clinton, Iowa.

Her funeral service will be held at 10:00 a.m., Thursday, June 2, 2016 at McGinnis-Chambers Funeral Home in Bettendorf.  Visitation will be held from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday at the funeral home.  Burial will be in Elmwood Cemetery in Morning Sun, Iowa.  Memorials may be made to the family.

Ruth was born May 14, 1932 in Bland, Missouri, the daughter of Henry & Mabel (Jurgensmeyer) Shockley.  She was united in marriage to Alfred E. Smith in Waynesville, Missouri in 1954.  He preceded her in death on May 18, 1996

Ruth was previously employed with the former Crescent Macaroni Company in Davenport and later at Rockingham Machine and Super 8.  She was the first woman Tool and Die maker in Iowa.  An active member of the Bettendorf Church of the Nazarene, she taught Sunday school for many generations.

Those left to honor Ruth’s memory include her daughter, Julie Manley of Davenport; her grandchildren, Justin (Jean) Raymond of DeWitt, Iowa and Brittany Combs of Buffalo, Iowa; five great-grandchildren; her sister, Ruby Heichelback of Kentucky; and her brother, LaVerne “Tom” Shockley of St. Peters, Missouri.

In addition to her husband, Ruth was preceded in death by her sons Jerry and Randall Smith; her sister, Mary Coburn; and her brothers, Charles and Jack Shockley.