Betty Ruark

Macon- Betty Ruark died Thursday, January 8, 2009. Services will be held on Monday, January 12, 2009 at 3:00PM in the Chapel of Hart's Mortuary, Cherry Street, with the Reverend Ben Taylor officiating. Burial will be in Macon Memorial Park. The family will greet friends on Sunday from 5:00PM until 7:00PM at Hart's Mortuary. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that in memory of Mrs. Ruark donations be made to First Baptist Church, 511 High Place, Macon, GA 31201 or to First Baptist Church in Milner, GA, or Vineville Christian Towers, 2394 Vineville Avenue, Macon, GA 31204. Betty was born on September 3, 1912 in Marshallville, Georgia, the tenth of eleven children of James Rufus and Elizabeth Persons Virden. She entered the nurses' training program at the Macon Hospital in February 1931, graduating three years later in 1934. She married Howell Ruark in January of that year. After completing her training, she worked as a private nurse for several years before beginning twenty-five years of service in the Macon-Bibb County Public Health Department. During her nursing career she held offices in the Georgia Public Health Association and the Georgia Nurses' Association and was a member of the Macon Hospital Alumnae and American Red Cross. In her last position with the Public Health Department she organized the first Alcoholic Rehabilitation Clinic in the area. Betty was a member of the First Baptist Church in Macon where, until recently, she was active in the Grand Chorus and Reflections Sunday School Class. She used her nursing knowledge in service to the church members by providing a bi-weekly blood pressure clinic. She was a longtime member of the Macon Pilot Club, serving in several officer positions through the years. After living on Jeffersonville Road for fifty-five years, Betty had, since 1994, lived at Vineville Christian Towers where she established many lasting relationships. Mrs. Ruark is survived by her children, Sally Ruark Johnston (James) of Griffin, GA and William H. Ruark (Cynthia) of Lexington, VA; adopted daughter, Evelyn C. Helmly of Rincon, GA; grandchildren, Elizabeth J. Horne (David) of Griffin, Mary Carol Johnston of Inverness, FL, Marcus Ruark (Ashlen) of Prosper, TX and John Ruark (Liz) of Bolton, MA; four great-grandchildren; several nieces and nephews. Online register is located at www.hartsmort.com. Hart's Mortuary and Crematory, Cherry Street, has charge of arrangements.