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Ruth Spawn Coltrane

Obituary

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Ruth Coltrane Obituary

Published by Legacy Remembers from Sep. 14 to Sep. 16, 2009.

STOKESDALE — Ruth Spawn Coltrane, 97, of Countryside Manor Retirement Village in Stokesdale, N.C., and formerly of Norfolk, Va., passed away Friday, September 11, 2009.

She was born November 19, 1911, in Chester, South Dakota, the daughter of the late Charles Earl and Josephine Spawn. She was of the Christian faith.

She had fond memories of growing up on her parents' resort on Brant Lake. In the early days of his career, Lawrence Welk used to play for Saturday night dances at the resort's skating rink; and until her death, Ruth enjoyed watching virtually every re-run of the The Lawrence Welk Show. Ruth had a great love of family and friends. She could always find something positive in everyone and took great pleasure in the little things in life.

Ruth had retired from the Norfolk District Corps of Engineers in Norfolk, Va., after 15 years of federal service there and in Washington, D.C. She also helped her husband operate a hardware store for six years in Norfolk.

She was predeceased by her parents; a brother, Gerald B. Spawn and a sister, Bernice Spawn; a nephew, Gerald W. Spawn; and her beloved husband of 60 years, Charles Benjamin Coltrane.

Survivors include a son, Charles Earl Coltrane and wife, Linda, of Greensboro, a daughter, Marjorie Jo Joynes, of Virginia Beach, Va.; six grandchildren, Kevin Michael Coltrane of Raleigh, Amy Coltrane Lee and husband, Evan, of Littleton, Colo., Joseph Dickson Joynes and wife, Mae, of Virginia Beach, Christy Garland Swindler and husband, Anthony, of Poquoson, Va., Angela Page Craig and husband, Shannon, of Suffolk, Va., and John Phillip Joynes and wife, Meahgan, of Virginia Beach, and six great-grandchildren.

The family wishes to express our heartfelt thanks to the staff of Countryside Manor for the compassionate care they gave Ruth this past year and a half.

A memorial service will be conducted at 1 p.m. on Saturday, September 26, in the Mausoleum of the Woodlawn Memorial Gardens, 6309 Virginia Beach Boulevard, Norfolk, Virginia.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Countryside Manor Activity Fund, 7700 U.S. Highway 158, Stokesdale, NC 27357, or to the charity of your choice.

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Bill Bodnar

September 15, 2009

My deepest sympathy to the family of Ruth and Charlie. They were friends of ours at the Norfolk Elks Lodge 38. I will always remember how nice they were to our sons at the swimming pool. May the rest in peace, they will be in my prayers.