Services for Ruth Stephens, 88, of Exeter were held on April 16 at Webb-Sanders Funeral Home in Lindsay. She was buried at the Lindsay-Strathmore Cemetery. She died on April 11 at Kaweah Delta Hospital.
She was born Ruth Dennis on May 7, 1915 in Paoli, Hawaii. She married Silas V. Stephen on Sept. 21, 1929 in Puls Valley, Okla. She came to Tulare County in 1947. A homemaker who loved her family, she spent her life taking care of her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren. She enjoyed taking care of house plants, quilting and, in her youth, playing basketball.
Survivors include five sons, Bob "Sam" and Dexter Stephens both of Miami, Okla. and Fred, Will and Don Stephens all of Tulare; six daughters, Maxine Hunt and Carol Briones both of Exeter, Bernice Ellis of Bakersfield, Linda Borders of Lillian, Ala. and Sharon Chronister of Tulare; two brothers, M.C. Dennis and Clinton Dennis both of Modesto; four sisters, Letress Perkins of Lindsay, Okla., Quanda Murray and Sue Munday both of Modesto, and Janice Nunnold of Turlok; 37 grandchildren, numerous great-grandchildren and several great-great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Silas, in 1976. Arrangements were under the direction of Webb-Sanders Funeral Home.
