Ruth E. Padgett, 93, a lifelong resident of Florida, passed away on June 7, 2024, at Astoria Senior Living of Winter Haven, FL. Born on October 1, 1930, in St. Petersburg, FL to Harold P. and Louise Balentine Hargraves. She was the founding director and a former member of the Lake Carroll Baptist Church Learning Center in Tampa, FL, where she served for 22 years before retiring in 1988. Then became a current member of the Church on the Hill in Dundee, FL. Ruth also led the Vacation Bible School in Tampa and was actively involved in the Women's Missionary Union (WMU) in Dundee, FL.

Ruth was an artist who expressed her creativity through painting, cake decorating, sewing, and crafting birthday cards for the Sunday school. Her love for the Lord, her church, and her family was evident in everything she did. Ruth's greatest joy was spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, teaching and cherishing them. She was a beloved figure known for her spirituality, inspiration, dedication to Jesus, strength, resilience, and kindness. Ruth's generosity and sweet spirit touched everyone she met.

She is preceded in death by her parents, her beloved husband, Robert Padgett; son, Stephen Padgett; and siblings, Harold Hargraves, Louis Hargraves, Doris Alonso, and Carol Thornhill. Ruth is survived by her children, Deborah Webb and her husband, Jocko, of Dundee, FL, and Mark Padgett and his wife, Brenda, of Lutz, FL; granddaughters, Nicole Farmer and her husband, Ellery, of Lake Wales, FL, and Danielle Ball and her husband, Deric, of Haines City, FL; and great-grandchildren, Harlee Farmer, Daxton Ball, and Deklin Ball.

A visitation will be held on Monday, June 17 at 9:00 am, followed by a funeral service at 10:00 am, all at Oak Ridge Funeral Care in Haines City, FL. Ruth will be laid to rest at Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell, FL at 2:00 pm on June 17.

Donations can be made in her memory to Compassionate Care Hospice and Astoria Senior Living.