Willa Ruth Braden

Willa Ruth Duke Braden was born on May 24, 1931 in Scotts Mill, Tennessee and peacefully departed this life on Wednesday, November 20, 2024 at age 93. She was the fourth of eight children born to Lena Jane Duke and John Henry Duke.

From an early age, Ruth loved learning and was a good student at Perry Hill School in Mt. Pleasant, Tennessee. Growing up in rural Tennessee, when she wasn’t in school, she and her siblings played and did their farm chores. Her mother, Lena Jane, passed down many of the recipes and traditions that Ruth shared with her family for the rest of her life.

In June 1948, Ruth was married to Marcus Stone and to that union, three children, Johnny, Sandra and Marcus were born. Sadly, she was widowed early in their marriage. After more than a decade of lovingly raising her children alone, Ruth married William Frank Braden in Columbia, Tennessee on November 6, 1965. The Braden’s moved to Cincinnati, Ohio the same year. A few years later, Ruth and Frank completed their family welcoming two more daughters, Regina and Tracey. In her new life in Cincinnati, Ruth devoted her time to being a homemaker, known for her incredible crafting as a quilter and seamstress. After seeing movies in the theater, she could easily recreate outfits worn by actresses on the big screen. Her many quilts adorned every bed in her house and the houses of extended family. Ruth was also known for her homecooked meals, especially around the holidays — cornbread dressing, fried corn, sweet potatoes,

home canned green beans and several desserts lined the kitchen counters with enough for everyone to eat their fill. She loved word puzzles, solving the Jumble puzzle in the newspaper every day and was the reigning Scrabble champion at church picnics.

Ruth was a faithful servant of the Lord and was baptized by Bro. Fred L. Dowell on September 29, 1964 at Burns Spring Church of Christ. She was dedicated to church activities at Beecher Street Church of Christ, including being a Bible school teacher and helping with the food pantry, serving community breakfasts on Friday mornings. She loved her friends at Gray Road Church of Christ, attending many group trips with the Seasoned Saints. Ruth was committed to going to church every Sunday, even when her health declined and she was unable to go in person, she regularly watched services online.

Ruth Braden was loved by so many and on her 90th birthday, she received more than 175 cards and well wishes. She was a wonderful friend, mother and wife with a warm heart and generous spirit. Her love was the fabric that wove the tapestry of our lives and she will be dearly missed.

Ruth Braden was preceded in death by her parents; siblings, Lena Mae Duke Hatton, John “Brut” Duke, Jr., William “Tism” Duke, Claude Will Duke, Sara Bell Primm and William Evans “Doc” Duke; son, Marcus Stone; and son-in-law, Walter Vance.

Her memory will be cherished by her loving husband of 59 years, William Frank Braden; her children, Johnny (Patricia) Stone, Sandra Vance, daughter-in-law, Cheryl Stone, Regina Braden and Tracey (Greg) Jasper; grandchildren, LaToya (Thavian) White, Jonathan (Ryane) Stone, Leah (Bobby) McDaniel, Walter (Janean) Vance III, Lydia, William and Natalie Jasper; great-grand-children, Xavier McDaniel, Colin, Sydney and Emery Stone, IV and Warren Vance; sister, Alice Braden; and a host of beloved nieces, nephews and cousins.

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