Ruth Smith Gilmer

Ruth Smith Gilmer

Ruth Smith Gilmer of Louisa, Virginia, passed away on Saturday, June 4, 2011, at age 89.

She was born on the mission station at Mutoto, Belgian Congo, Africa, on February 20, 1922, to Southern Presbyterian missionaries, Dr. Plumer Smith, and his wife, Katie Russell Smith.

She attended Central School at Lubondai, also in Kasai region of the Congo, graduating in 1938. After coming to the United States to attend college, first at Flora McDonald College, then Agnes Scott, she graduated from Erskine College, Due West, South Carolina in 1943 with a major in English. She subsequently taught school in North Carolina and Virginia.

She married John B. Gilmer of Louisa, Virginia, in 1947 at Ginter Park Presbyterian Church in Richmond, Virginia. They celebrated their 63rd wedding anniversary on December 27, 2010. Ruth lived with her family in Richmond from 1957 until 1973. While there she taught second grade at Maude Trevett and Chamberlayne Elementary Schools in Henrico County. After moving to Louisa, Virginia in 1973, Ruth taught at the Louisa Elementary school as a third grade teacher and then as the reading teacher there and later at Thomas Jefferson School, retiring in 1989. She received a Master of Education degree from the University of Virginia in 1986.

Mrs. Gilmer was a faithful member of Louisa Baptist Church, where she taught Sunday School, sang in the Choir, and participated in the "Silver Liners," the cassette ministry for shut-ins, and other activities. When she was young, her father told her that she was named after the Biblical Ruth, and, "When people ask you to speak, always say 'Yes.'" Ruth did so, speaking about her life and the Church's ministry in the Congo. She loved to dress in her African outfit and sing Congolese songs for children at churches and schools. She displayed her many African artifacts her father brought back from the Congo and which she collected over the years.

Ruth was always ready to go on a trip with her family or friends. She traveled with her sister or other family members to points all over the United States. In 1991 with her brother Russell, his wife Margie and daughter in law Cindy she visited her birth place, Mutoto, as they joined in the celebration of the 100th anniversary of the African Presbyterian Congo Mission. In 1994 and 1995 she traveled to Guam and Iwo Jima with her husband John, and in 2000 to Alaska with her daughters and granddaughters. She enjoyed traveling by train and collecting toy trains, and participated with her husband in the Virginia Train Collectors club.

Mrs. Gilmer is survived by her husband John B. Gilmer, son John B. Gilmer Jr. and his wife, Cindy M. Gilmer, of Forty Fort, Pennsylvania; daughters, Patsy Gilmer Crawley and Susan Gilmer West and her husband, Larry West, of Chesterfield County; and son, Charles Russell Gilmer and his wife Mirian Gilmer also of Chesterfield County. Mrs. Gilmer has six grandchildren. Ginny Grey lives with her husband Lt. Steven Grey, United States Navy, in Salinas, California. James A. Crawley, Melissa R. West, Michael P. West, Patrick G. Crawley, and Stephen G. West are all residents of Chesterfield County. Mirian's children, Mesthy and Jayson, also look to Ruth as their grandmother. Also surviving is her brother, Russell M. Smith of Alexandria, Virginia, and his sons, Rusty, Theron, and Jay, and their families. Lynn Gilmer Guilford of Louisa is a surviving sister- in-law. Her daughter, Lynn, lives in Ashland, and sons, Billy and Mike live in Louisa. Her sister in law Mildred Center Gilmer and her children Meriwether, Elizabeth, Burt, and Meg and their families live in the Atlanta, Georgia area.

Mrs. Gilmer was preceded in death by her parents; her brother, John Newton Smith; and her sister, Betty Anne Smith.

The family will receive visitors at Woodward Funeral Home, 200 Fredericksburg Avenue, Louisa from 6 until 8 p.m. Thursday, June 9, 2011.

A graveside service will be held 10 a.m. Friday, June 10, 2011, at Hillcrest Cemetery, 3 miles west of Louisa on Route 33.

A memorial service at Louisa Baptist Church will follow at 11 a.m. The service will be followed by a reception at the church.

For those who would prefer to do so, a gift may be made in Ruth Gilmer's name to the Fund for the Brazil Mission Trip in care of Louisa Baptist Church, P.O. Box 552, Louisa, Virginia, 23093.

Online guestbook available at www.woodwardfuneral.com.


This obituary was originally published in the Daily Progress.