Ruth Walston Obituary
Publish in a newspaper
Graveside service will be at 2:30pm on Sunday, November 16, 2025, at Rocky Mount Memorial Park officiated by Rev. Melissa Acres.
Ruth Leola Walston was born on August 25, 1931, in Las Cruses, New Mexico to Algie Crocker and Heppie Leola Crocker. Over the years her father was a minister at several churches and her mother taught piano. Both of her parents greatly influenced her Christian Life.
Leola attended three years of high school in Richlands, VA and later graduated after her senior year of Elizabeth City High School. She attended Lynchburg College, obtained a BS degree from Atlantic Christian College and later a master's degree from East Carolina University. During her 28 years in her education career, she taught children with special needs and later was coordinator of special needs for all 18 Nash County Schools.
In 1949 Leola married Kenneth Dawson and they had one daughter, Sandra. Tragically she died in a car accident while away at her first year of college. Kenneth passed away in 1977 and in 1981 she married Wilbur Ray Walston of the St. Lewis Community.
While living in St. Lewis she operated a store in Pinetops, attended Macclesfield Christian Church and played the piano there for 30 years. She always had a garden each spring, made many of her clothes and maintained a big yard of flowers and fruit trees. She did everything well, including how she lived her life.
In 1986, she retired from the Nash County Schools to come "home" to take care of her husband Wilbur Ray, who had a bad stroke. She took care of him until his death in 2012. After that she remained in her home until 2023 when she moved to an Assisted Living Facility.
She is survived by a niece, nephews, her church family and the good friends of her community.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Macclesfield First Christian Church, P.O. Box 41, Macclesfield, NC 27852.
To send flowers
to the family or plant a tree
in memory of Ruth "Leola" (Crocker) Walston, please visit our floral store.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
How you can show support
Send flowers
Consider sending flowers.
Add photos
Share their life with photo memories.
Plant trees
Honor them by planting trees in their memory.
Follow this page
Get email updates whenever changes are made.
Donate in Memory
Make a donation in memory of your loved one.
Share this page
Invite other friends and family to visit the page.
0 Entries
Be the first to post a memory or condolences.
701 Hospital Drive, Tarboro, NC 27886
Make a Donation
in Ruth Walston's name
People and places connected with Ruth
Recent Obituaries
Recent Obituaries
Recent Obituaries
Recent Obituaries
Recent Obituaries
Recent Obituaries
How to support Ruth's loved ones
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 more
Resources to help you cope with loss
How to Cope With Grief
Information and advice to help you cope with the death of someone important to you.
Read more
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 moreWays to honor Ruth Walston'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
