Ruth Allen Smith

On June 13, 2022, Ruth Allen Smith, dearly loved by all her family and friends,
passed away at age 99 to be in heaven and to rejoice in fellowship with her Lord
and her previously passed loved ones.
Ruth Allen of Granville County, NC, was born February 28, 1923, to Obie Battle
Allen and Hazel York Allen. She grew up in the country near Creedmoor and
loved the outdoors, especially riding her horse through the surrounding woods and
fields. After her mother died at a young age, Ruth was raised by her beloved Aunt
Bessie and Uncle Mel.
Along with her sister Marion, Ruth attended and graduated from East Carolina
Teachers College. After graduation, she took a teaching position in Plymouth
where she met and married Elmer Harold Browning of Plymouth. Following their
wedding, the couple went on a storybook honeymoon to New York City, which
included dancing to big bands at the Waldorf Astoria. Ruth had a special bond with
her sister Marion Haskins and husband Hugh Bryant. Over the years, she and
Elmer took many trips with the Haskins. Ruth also maintained a special bond with
Marion and Hugh Bryant's sons, Bryant and David, along with their families.
During their 39 years of marriage, Ruth and Elmer owned and operated
Browning's Department store in Plymouth, and she developed many close and
enduring friendships. She and Elmer raised and nurtured three children and
imparted in them a strong religious foundation. Both Ruth and Elmer were active
members of Plymouth Church of Christ, where Elmer served as a deacon and she
as a Sunday School teacher.
Ruth was passionately invested in her children's lives in the arenas of school,
church and sports. She eagerly participated in her children's activities, including
Vacation Bible School, Brownie Scouts, Girl Scouts, Cub Scouts, Little and Babe
Ruth Leagues and high school sports. She rarely ever missed a sports activity that
one of her children were involved in, even if the venue was located several
counties away from Plymouth.
After her children graduated from college, married their sweethearts and moved
away- two to Raleigh and oldest son to Atlanta and then Charlotte- she and Elmer
took frequent trips to visit them. Once grandchildren started to arrive on the scene,
the frequency of these visits significantly increased.
After the death of Elmer in 1984, Ruth sold the store and her home in Plymouth
and moved to Raleigh. A few years after moving to Raleigh, she married a fine
Christian man, John Clayton Smith. They were happily married for 22 years until
his death in 2012. Johnnie had two children, Clay and Margo, and Ruth shared an
especial closeness with Margo, who made frequent trips to visit from Atlanta.
During her time in Raleigh until her death, Ruth was devoted to her children,
grandchildren and great grandchildren, all who adored her. Her life was filled with
the joy of watching these young ones grow up and being involved in all aspects of
their lives.
For the last years of her life, Ruth lived at Springmoor in Raleigh and developed
many close friends. She remained very active and independent and only stopped
driving her own car in Raleigh at age 98. She especially enjoyed biweekly games
of Rummikub with her Springmoor friends and knitting for others. Ruth never truly
"grew old" and remained sharp and energetic till the end. Just two days prior to her
passing, she was walking on the beach at Emerald Isle and enjoying the swim spa
at her daughter and son- in- law's cottage.
Ruth's life was one of strong religious faith and an exuberant love of life and
family. It can truly be said that hers was a life well lived. The void she leaves in
our lives will remain unfilled, but we take comfort in remembering her joy of
living and all she meant and continues to mean to us. Ruth, rest in eternal peace
with the Lord. We know that one day we will be together again, living in perfect
love, joy and peace forever.
Ruth is survived by her children, Mel (Georgia) Browning, John (Sheree)
Browning, Hazel (Norm) Possiel, nephews David (Lynne) Haskins and Bryant
(Karen) Haskins, stepchildren Clay (Juny) Smith and Margo Timberlake, six
grandchildren: Ashlynn (Ray) Greene, Erin (Casey) Moody, Ben (Megan) Possiel,
Scott Possiel, Adam (Diana) Browning, Laura (Jon) Grant and ten great
grandchildren: Thomas and Henry Greene, Aiden, Tucker and Cohen Moody,
Grayson, Charlotte and Daniel Possiel, and Griffin and Collins Browning.
She is preceded in death by her first and second husbands, Elmer Browning and
Johnnie Smith, by her sister Marion and husband Hugh Bryant Haskins, and by
grandson, Will Browning.
A memorial service will be held at Springmoor Retirement home auditorium at 11
am on Saturday, June 18. A graveside service will be held at the family's gravesite
at Windley Cemetery in Plymouth, NC at 2 pm on Sunday, June19.
In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be made to the Frankie Lemmon
School & Development Center, 3311 Carl Sandburg Court, Raleigh, NC 27610 or
Creedmoor Road Baptist Church, 6001 Creedmoor Road, Raleigh, NC 27612.
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