- Date Of Birth: December 1, 1946
- Date Of Death: May 25, 2021
- State: Florida
Gladys “Ruth” Battle, 74, passed away May 25, 2021, in Middleburg, FL.
Ruth was born December 1, 1946, to Lawrence Hicks and Mary Johnson Hicks, in Garrett, KY. Her father was a farmer and coal miner. Her mother was a stay-at-home mother of 11.
Ruth was known by the family as “Sugar” or “Sug” due to her love of the sugar bowl as a toddler. As a child, Ruth spent her mornings before school working in the fields but after school she could be found across the street dancing the soles off her shoes to the juke box.
After graduation, Ruth moved to Lexington, KY where she soon met her husband-to-be, Jim Battle. After a short courtship she moved to Jacksonville, FL and they married.
Ruth spent her career working first as a Unit Secretary at St. Vincent’s Hospital at Riverside in Jacksonville, FL. She later became the Business Office Manager at Orange Park Medical Center in Orange Park, FL, where she worked for many years. She made many friends and truly enjoyed her time there.
Ruth and Jim had two girls, Lynn and Loree. Ruth enjoyed making memories with their family,— camping, going to the beach and lake and making yearly trips back home to Kentucky to stay connected to family. Ruth also enjoyed spoiling her grandchildren, Kendall and Logan. “They were the light of her life.”
Ruth and Jim were married 51 years until the time of his passing in August 2018. Ruth lived her life to the fullest.
Ruth was preceded in death by her parents, her loving husband, James “Jim” L. Battle; beloved daughter, Lynn Battle Creighton; brother, Eugene Hicks and sisters, Ethel Hunter, Rochella Turner, Ruby Bentley and Darlene Palmer.
Ruth is survived by her loving daughter, Loree Yarbrough; grandchildren, Kendall Yarbrough and Logan Yarbrough; former son in-law, Jonathan Yarbrough; brothers, Bobby (Sherry)Hicks, Scotty (Ellie) Hicks, Danny Hicks and Joe Paul Hicks, as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
