Mary Ruth Parker Arthur, 91, of Roanoke, passed away on Monday, April 11, 2011, in a local hospital after a brief illness. She was born on May 11, 1919, in Roanoke, Va., to William Carlton Parker, early photographer in Roanoke, and his wife, Mabel Clara Plewes Parker. She was preceded in death by her husband, C. Ralph Arthur, President of Ferrum College from 1954 to 1970; and her four brothers, William C. Parker Jr., Alton Parker, John W. Parker, and Robert P. Parker.
Mary graduated from Jefferson High School in 1936 and later attended Roanoke College. During this time, she worked in the family photography business, Parker Studio.
At age 25, she married a Methodist minister, C. Ralph Arthur, and served alongside him during his ministries, most notably during his tenure as the president of Ferrum College.
After the death of her husband in 1970, Mary returned to Roanoke and worked as a realtor. She enjoyed traveling with her brother, Alton, and special friend, Hubert Ruff, and spending time with her family at Smith Mountain Lake.
Mary was a member of several community groups in Roanoke, including the Thursday Morning Music Club, the Athenian Club, and the Wednesday Morning History Club. She was a lifelong member of Greene Memorial United Methodist Church and the Joye Sheffey Circle. She spent her last years living at Brandon Oaks, the last year with the assistance of Brenda Witt.
A few years ago Mary wrote, "I have had a good life, abundantly blessed by wonderful parents and brothers, a loving, sweet, talented husband, exceptional in-laws, handsome sons, beautiful daughters-in-law, and gorgeous grandchildren! These are the important and really true values in life."
Surviving are her son and daughter-in-law, C. Ralph Arthur Jr. and Sarah S. Arthur, of Radford, Va.; son and daughter-in-law, Thomas C. Arthur and Carolyn F. Arthur, of Atlanta, Ga.; son, Richard A. Arthur, of Richmond, Va.; and son and daughterin-law, Parker A. Arthur and Jan H. Arthur, of Salem, Va.; six grandchildren, Mary Katherine Marsh, John T. Arthur, David F. Arthur, Charles R. Arthur III, Elizabeth P. Arthur, and Julia G. Arthur; and one great-grandson, Benjamin A. Marsh.
Funeral Services will be conducted at 11 a.m. on Saturday, April 16, 2011, at Greene Memorial United Methodist Church with the Rev. Gary Robbins and Dr. Bernard Via officiating. Interment will be at 6 p.m. on Friday, April 15, 2011, under the Bell Tower on the campus of Ferrum College, beside her husband.
In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to Ferrum College, Office of Development, P.O. Box 1000, Ferrum, VA 24088.
The exceptional care provided by both the palliative care team and the hospice staff of Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital is appreciated.
The family will receive friends from 2 to 4 p.m. on Friday, April 15, 2011, at Oakey's Roanoke Chapel.
Published in Roanoke Times from April 13 to April 15, 2011
Mary graduated from Jefferson High School in 1936 and later attended Roanoke College. During this time, she worked in the family photography business, Parker Studio.
At age 25, she married a Methodist minister, C. Ralph Arthur, and served alongside him during his ministries, most notably during his tenure as the president of Ferrum College.
After the death of her husband in 1970, Mary returned to Roanoke and worked as a realtor. She enjoyed traveling with her brother, Alton, and special friend, Hubert Ruff, and spending time with her family at Smith Mountain Lake.
Mary was a member of several community groups in Roanoke, including the Thursday Morning Music Club, the Athenian Club, and the Wednesday Morning History Club. She was a lifelong member of Greene Memorial United Methodist Church and the Joye Sheffey Circle. She spent her last years living at Brandon Oaks, the last year with the assistance of Brenda Witt.
A few years ago Mary wrote, "I have had a good life, abundantly blessed by wonderful parents and brothers, a loving, sweet, talented husband, exceptional in-laws, handsome sons, beautiful daughters-in-law, and gorgeous grandchildren! These are the important and really true values in life."
Surviving are her son and daughter-in-law, C. Ralph Arthur Jr. and Sarah S. Arthur, of Radford, Va.; son and daughter-in-law, Thomas C. Arthur and Carolyn F. Arthur, of Atlanta, Ga.; son, Richard A. Arthur, of Richmond, Va.; and son and daughterin-law, Parker A. Arthur and Jan H. Arthur, of Salem, Va.; six grandchildren, Mary Katherine Marsh, John T. Arthur, David F. Arthur, Charles R. Arthur III, Elizabeth P. Arthur, and Julia G. Arthur; and one great-grandson, Benjamin A. Marsh.
Funeral Services will be conducted at 11 a.m. on Saturday, April 16, 2011, at Greene Memorial United Methodist Church with the Rev. Gary Robbins and Dr. Bernard Via officiating. Interment will be at 6 p.m. on Friday, April 15, 2011, under the Bell Tower on the campus of Ferrum College, beside her husband.
In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to Ferrum College, Office of Development, P.O. Box 1000, Ferrum, VA 24088.
The exceptional care provided by both the palliative care team and the hospice staff of Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital is appreciated.
The family will receive friends from 2 to 4 p.m. on Friday, April 15, 2011, at Oakey's Roanoke Chapel.
Published in Roanoke Times from April 13 to April 15, 2011
Mary Ruth Parker Arthur, 91, of Roanoke, passed away on Monday, April 11, 2011, in a local hospital after a brief illness. She was born on May 11, 1919, in Roanoke, Va., to William Carlton Parker, early photographer in Roanoke, and his wife, Mabel Clara Plewes Parker. She was preceded in death by her husband, C. Ralph Arthur, President of Ferrum College from 1954 to 1970; and her four brothers, William C. Parker Jr., Alton Parker, John W. Parker, and Robert P. Parker.
Mary graduated from Jefferson High School in 1936 and later attended Roanoke College. During this time, she worked in the family photography business, Parker Studio.
At age 25, she married a Methodist minister, C. Ralph Arthur, and served alongside him during his ministries, most notably during his tenure as the president of Ferrum College.
After the death of her husband in 1970, Mary returned to Roanoke and worked as a realtor. She enjoyed traveling with her brother, Alton, and special friend, Hubert Ruff, and spending time with her family at Smith Mountain Lake.
Mary was a member of several community groups in Roanoke, including the Thursday Morning Music Club, the Athenian Club, and the Wednesday Morning History Club. She was a lifelong member of Greene Memorial United Methodist Church and the Joye Sheffey Circle. She spent her last years living at Brandon Oaks, the last year with the assistance of Brenda Witt.
A few years ago Mary wrote, "I have had a good life, abundantly blessed by wonderful parents and brothers, a loving, sweet, talented husband, exceptional in-laws, handsome sons, beautiful daughters-in-law, and gorgeous grandchildren! These are the important and really true values in life."
Surviving are her son and daughter-in-law, C. Ralph Arthur Jr. and Sarah S. Arthur, of Radford, Va.; son and daughter-in-law, Thomas C. Arthur and Carolyn F. Arthur, of Atlanta, Ga.; son, Richard A. Arthur, of Richmond, Va.; and son and daughterin-law, Parker A. Arthur and Jan H. Arthur, of Salem, Va.; six grandchildren, Mary Katherine Marsh, John T. Arthur, David F. Arthur, Charles R. Arthur III, Elizabeth P. Arthur, and Julia G. Arthur; and one great-grandson, Benjamin A. Marsh.
Funeral Services will be conducted at 11 a.m. on Saturday, April 16, 2011, at Greene Memorial United Methodist Church with the Rev. Gary Robbins and Dr. Bernard Via officiating. Interment will be at 6 p.m. on Friday, April 15, 2011, under the Bell Tower on the campus of Ferrum College, beside her husband.
In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to Ferrum College, Office of Development, P.O. Box 1000, Ferrum, VA 24088.
The exceptional care provided by both the palliative care team and the hospice staff of Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital is appreciated.
The family will receive friends from 2 to 4 p.m. on Friday, April 15, 2011, at Oakey's Roanoke Chapel.
Published in Roanoke Times from April 13 to April 15, 2011
Mary graduated from Jefferson High School in 1936 and later attended Roanoke College. During this time, she worked in the family photography business, Parker Studio.
At age 25, she married a Methodist minister, C. Ralph Arthur, and served alongside him during his ministries, most notably during his tenure as the president of Ferrum College.
After the death of her husband in 1970, Mary returned to Roanoke and worked as a realtor. She enjoyed traveling with her brother, Alton, and special friend, Hubert Ruff, and spending time with her family at Smith Mountain Lake.
Mary was a member of several community groups in Roanoke, including the Thursday Morning Music Club, the Athenian Club, and the Wednesday Morning History Club. She was a lifelong member of Greene Memorial United Methodist Church and the Joye Sheffey Circle. She spent her last years living at Brandon Oaks, the last year with the assistance of Brenda Witt.
A few years ago Mary wrote, "I have had a good life, abundantly blessed by wonderful parents and brothers, a loving, sweet, talented husband, exceptional in-laws, handsome sons, beautiful daughters-in-law, and gorgeous grandchildren! These are the important and really true values in life."
Surviving are her son and daughter-in-law, C. Ralph Arthur Jr. and Sarah S. Arthur, of Radford, Va.; son and daughter-in-law, Thomas C. Arthur and Carolyn F. Arthur, of Atlanta, Ga.; son, Richard A. Arthur, of Richmond, Va.; and son and daughterin-law, Parker A. Arthur and Jan H. Arthur, of Salem, Va.; six grandchildren, Mary Katherine Marsh, John T. Arthur, David F. Arthur, Charles R. Arthur III, Elizabeth P. Arthur, and Julia G. Arthur; and one great-grandson, Benjamin A. Marsh.
Funeral Services will be conducted at 11 a.m. on Saturday, April 16, 2011, at Greene Memorial United Methodist Church with the Rev. Gary Robbins and Dr. Bernard Via officiating. Interment will be at 6 p.m. on Friday, April 15, 2011, under the Bell Tower on the campus of Ferrum College, beside her husband.
In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to Ferrum College, Office of Development, P.O. Box 1000, Ferrum, VA 24088.
The exceptional care provided by both the palliative care team and the hospice staff of Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital is appreciated.
The family will receive friends from 2 to 4 p.m. on Friday, April 15, 2011, at Oakey's Roanoke Chapel.
Published in Roanoke Times from April 13 to April 15, 2011
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