Mary Ruth Miles Jones

Mary Ruth Miles Jones, of Springfield, passed away Sunday, August 25, 2019 at her home. Funeral services will be held Wednesday, August 28, 2019 at the Springfield Baptist Church with Brother Martin Babb officiating. Burial will follow in the Elmwood Cemetery with Bruce Jones, Jarrod Holman, Justin Holman, Corey Richardson, Bob Sneed, Carden Bagwell, Wesley Pepper and Jerry Whitaker serving as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers are Earl Nichols, Jerry West, Ted Stubblefield, Bill Simmons and the Winnie Mae Shannon Sunday School Class at Springfield Baptist Church. Visitation will be held at the church on Tuesday, August 27, 2019 from 4-7pm and on Wednesday at the church from 9am until the hour of service at 10am. She was born on June 28, 1920 in Springfield to the late William H. and Elizabeth (Bess) Miles. Ruth graduated from Springfield High School in 1937 and from Western Ky University in 1941. She was advanced a grade in high school and thus, graduated from college with her sister in the same year. Her mother closed the farm operation and moved with the two girls to the college town and got a job as a dorm mother until the girls graduated. Her mother, even though a widow, sent all four of her children to college. The boys became engineers and Betty Kate a teacher. Ruth was more of a math and science person. Mrs. Jones’ first job was in a gun powder factory near Louisville, Ky during WWII where she was employed as a chemist. Her husband also had moved to Louisville and they were married there in 1942. Their first car was an old police car that had a hole in the back seat where the large radio had been place previously. It had to be taken to the mechanic every weekend for repair. They lived in one room with a shared bathroom with some other couples. He worked at Belknap Hardware Co. and later was put on the road traveling in Robertson County area. They moved back to Springfield and lived with her mother in a hundred year old 1800s built house on Adairville Highway. They later moved to Connell St. in town and have made their home in Springfield since then. Mrs. Jones was a competitive Bridge player and had an uncanny mind to remember numbers and cards which led her to be ranked in the Bridge Community. She headed up a Cub Scout Den and also was a Girl Scout leader. She was also a great tennis player, winning a tennis championship in her late 70s, badminton competitor and ping-pong player. None of her children could beat her. She was an amazing athlete. She was given a ping pong table for her 90th birthday and she began showing her great-grandchildren how she could still beat them. She was an avid believer in exercise and healthy eating. She was one of the regular walkers at The Center until her 99th birthday. Near the end of her life she often said she wondered why God let her live so long. In her last days she repeatedly saying she wanted to “go home.” She did not mean her Springfield home but to Heaven. She longed to be with God and her family there because she had no doubt that they were all believers and saved for Heaven's home and to be with Christ. Even though she was not able to hear preaching at her church, Springfield Baptist Church, due to her loss of hearing, she came every Sunday. She even was baptized with her oldest son when he was baptized because she felt it was the thing to do with him. She would talk to people about God, even strangers, if she thought that was what was needed to be done. She loved her Sunday School Class, the Winnie Mae Shannon Class, and her church and rarely ever missed. Like her mother, she was an avid Bible reader. She never put herself first but attended to several other family members in nursing homes and when they were in need. She was always “there” for everyone. She was a generous giver and sacrificed many things for the betterment of others no matter what she had to give up. When she saw someone in need she went all out to help alleviate that need. If we all could be like her, it certainly would be a better world. She will never be forgotten. Her family wants to give a very special thanks to Dr. Teresa Williams for her wonderful, loving care during the past few years of her life. There is no better doctor than Dr. Williams. Springfield is very fortunate to have such a qualified and caring physician. In addition to her parents Mrs. Jones is preceded in her death by her husband, William H. Jones, her brothers, William Polk Miles and John Woodard Miles, sister Betty Kate Townsend and great grandson, Crockett Holman. She is survived by her children, William Bruce Jones Sr. and his wife, Caffie of Springfield, Richard Allen Jones and his wife, Jana of Ridgetop and Kathy Sneed and her husband, Bob of Cedar Hill; 5 grandchildren; 7 step-grandchildren; and 9 great-grandchildren. Donations, if desired, can be made to the Stokes Brown Library, where she spent much time reading. Also, the Springfield Baptist Church Library or the Willow Oaks Center for the Arts. Any donations may be sent in care of Austin & Bell. Austin & Bell Funeral Home in Springfield is in charge of these arrangements. AUSTIN & BELL FUNERAL HOME- 509 WALNUT STREET, SPRINGFIELD, TN (615) 384-1000

Mary Ruth Miles Jones

June 28, 1920 - August 25, 2019