Ruth Johnston Skidmore, beloved mother, aunt, wife, grandmother, great grandmother, friend, veteran, and long-time Oak Ridge resident died on March 14, 2024 at the age of 101 in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Her son Dwight and granddaughter Shelby held her hands as she passed peacefully.

Ruth was born on October 12, 1922 in Fort Wayne, Indiana. She picked insects off of green beans and red raspberries by hand on her family farm, organic before organic was cool. Farm work was difficult, but she fondly remembered ice skating on the frozen river with her siblings. Ruth attended a one-room schoolhouse until 8th grade and made 10 cents a week cleaning chalk erasers for her teacher. She kept her earnings in the bank, and regretfully lost her life savings, $13, in the 1929 stock market crash, for which she never forgave President Hoover.

Ruth studied history at Hanover College and was the May Queen her senior year. Her two older brothers both fought in the war. Wanting to do her part, she made her way to Tucson, Arizona, where she went to nursing school and enlisted in the army in 1943. She looked very sharp in her uniform, but the war ended before she was deployed. While working in a local hospital, she gave some of the earliest penicillin injections. And you'll never guess who received them.

After World War II, Ruth moved to Oak Ridge, Tennessee and began working at the Y-12 National Security Complex. She married Milus Skidmore and raised 4 wonderful children: Sally, Milus, Mary, and Dwight. As a mother, she continued to work as a nurse and pursued her other passions: music, travel, and education. At 60, she began piano lessons and then guitar lessons and played in several local bands before finding her way to The Golden Eagles. Ruthie treasured her time with the band and played lead guitar with them until she was 100. She spent her last decades traveling the world and spending time with family and friends, including Percy Staats, her cherished companion. Ruth loved telling stories and always kept a joke in her back pocket. For her 99th birthday she told everyone to bring a joke to share.

Ruth is preceded in death by her husband, Milus Skidmore, Sr. and her grandson Joey Kocak. She is survived by her four children: Sally Ferguson (Jim Tolmach), Milus Skidmore (Lori), Mary Kocak (TJ), and Dwight Skidmore (Thuha); eight grandchildren: Elizabeth Tolmach (Walter Smith), Rebecca Tolmach (Evan Fackler), Ted Kocak (Lindsey), Rebecca Rofael (Michael), Andrew Kocak (Catherine Payzant), Shelby Williams (Michael), Alexis Skidmore-Smith (Joey Smith) and Khanh Nguyen; and a great grandson, Toby Kocak. She was proud of all of them. GR, as her grandchildren affectionately called her, would like to give you some advice: don't leave this world without seeing the Great Wall of China; wear sunscreen; stand up straight; and pay down the principal on your mortgage.

Ruth's graveside service will take place on Sunday, March 24, 2024, at Woodlawn Cemetery in Montpelier, beginning at 1:00 PM. Pastor Ryan Ingram will officiate, and military honors will be conducted by the United States Army and the Millard Brown American Legion Post #156.

A private service will be held in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, later this spring.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Walker & Glancy Funeral Home in Montpelier.