Ruth Ann Powell

Mrs. Ruth Ann (Bathgate) Roberts Powell, 91, passed away Saturday September 21, 2024 at her home in Smithland.
Ruth was born and raised in Branchfield, New Jersey. Her parents recognized her gift of singing and enrolled her in voice training when she was a young girl.
 She later split her time working at Selected Risks Insurance Co. as the in-house attorney secretary and later the Special Investigation Unit and farming with her husband, Robert, and raising their children. She was a 4-H leader, choir director, Sunday School superintendent, youth group leader and could be counted on to organize church suppers. While living in San Diego she worked as secretary for the president of N.C.R. Corporation before moving to Smithland to be near her children and grandchildren. Ruth obtained a job as Water Works clerk before taking the job of city clerk and treasurer for the city of Smithland for 21 years. Ruth organized Civil War reenactments; Smithland historic walking tours for the visiting quilters; she negotiated the plans for the Delta Queen and Mississippi Queen to dock so the passengers could take part in the tours and be entertained by historic characters from the Kentucky Humanities Council. She also became a Kentucky Colonel on her 75th birthday.
She is survived by; son, David Roberts of Hampton, KY.; daughter, Dianne Roberts (Danny) Fraley of Smithland, KY.; brother, William (Beverly) Bathgate of Branchville, NJ.; grandchildren, Sean (Lauretta) Roberts of Hampton, VA., Dustin (Angela) Roberts of Jacksboro, TN., Aaron Roberts of Louisville, KY., Luke Fraley and fiancé Natalie Welker of Benton, KY; great grandchildren, Keagan Roberts, Jeslie Roberts, Ashton Roberts, Sloan Roberts, Nairobi Cox, Kaiya Cox, Jace Wilson and Carson Fraley.
Ruth was preceded in death by; husband, Robert Roberts; parents, William and Irene (Reynolds) Bathgate.
Funeral Service will be 2 PM Friday September 27, 2024 in the chapel of Boyd Funeral Directors and Cremation Services with Billy Downs officiating.
Burial will follow in Smithland Cemetery.
Friends may visit with the family Friday from 11 AM until the funeral hour.
Condolences may be left online at boydfuneraldirectors.com

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