Add a Memory
Send Flowers
Make a Donation
About
Ruth Beck Obituary
Ruth Marie Beck, 96, of Hensley, Arkansas, passed away peacefully on November 26, 2023. Ruth was the wife of the late Billie Eugene Beck, Sr. who she married in 1946.
Ruth was born on November 18th, 1927, to Otis Earl Wood, Sr. and Pearl Amelia Friedrich Wood in Opal, Arkansas. She graduated from Beebe High School in 1945, and later became a beautician in 1959.
Ruth was preceded in death by her husband Billie Eugene Beck Sr., son Billie Eugene Beck, Jr., brother Otis Earl Wood, Jr., and stepmother Violet Wood Harris.
She is survived by her son Friedrich ‘Freddy’ Beck (Sharyon), her daughter Karen Oliver (Robbie), and daughter-in-law Sherry Beck as well as siblings: Jane Garrett (Larry), Doris Nutt, Larry Wood (Judy), David Wood, Timmy Wood, and sister-in-law JoAnn Wood. She was blessed with five grandchildren: Brian Beck (Tami), Christopher Gentry, Sr., Eric Beck (Michelle), Ashley Beck Howard, and Shannon Godec, ten great-grandchildren: Grace Beck, Jordan Gentry, Hailey Fogleman, Victoria Brazil, Jacob Howard, Zachary Howard, Chris Gentry Jr., Carson Gentry, Nadia Godec, Amelia Godec and one great great granddaughter, Zeppelin. She is also survived by a host of cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends whom she cherished deeply.
Ruth was best described as strong-willed and loving. Ruth hosted an array of family holidays filled with laughter and delicious food, including the traditional Christmas Eve Mexican feast. She enjoyed crocheting, quilting, cross stitching, gardening, camping, cooking, watching QVC and a hot cup of “coffee…black”. She and her late husband were members of the Fraternal Order of the Eagles #60 in Little Rock. Her bright smile and free-spoken remarks will be missed, endlessly.
Visitation will be held on Friday evening, December 1, 2023, from 6 - 8 pm at Smith-Westbrook Funeral Home at 404 W. Dewitt Henry Drive in Beebe, Arkansas. There will be a private burial service and Ruth will be laid to rest at Salem Cemetery in East End, Arkansas. To view the online registry, please visit www.smithfamilycares.com/westbrook.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
404 West Dewitt Henry Drive, Beebe, AR 72012
People and places connected with Ruth
Recent Obituaries
Recent Obituaries
Memories and Condolences
for Ruth Beck
Tell your own story about Ruth
Memories and condolences can be left on the obituary at the funeral home website.
How you can show support
Make a Donation
in Ruth Beck's name
How to support Ruth's loved ones
Honor a beloved veteran with a special tribute of ‘Taps’ at the National WWI Memorial in Washington, D.C.
The nightly ceremony in Washington, D.C. will be dedicated in honor of your loved one on the day of your choosing.
Read more
Should I Send Sympathy Flowers?
What kind of arrangement is appropriate, where should you send it, and when should you send an alternative?
Read more
What Should I Write in a Sympathy Card?
We'll help you find the right words to comfort your family member or loved one during this difficult time.
Read moreResources to help you cope with loss
Estate Settlement Guide
If you’re in charge of handling the affairs for a recently deceased loved one, this guide offers a helpful checklist.
Read more
Obituaries, grief & privacy: Legacy’s news editor on NPR podcast
Legacy's Linnea Crowther discusses how families talk about causes of death in the obituaries they write.
Read more
The Five Stages of Grief
They're not a map to follow, but simply a description of what people commonly feel.
Read moreWays to honor Ruth Beck's life and legacy
Obituary Examples
You may find these well-written obituary examples helpful as you write about your own family.
Read more
Obituary Templates – Customizable Examples and Samples
These free blank templates make writing an obituary faster and easier.
Read more
How Do I Write a Eulogy?
Some basic help and starters when you have to write a tribute to someone you love.
Read more