Princeton, MO: Ruth Lorraine (Shackelford) (Hamilton) Combs of Princeton, MO (formerly of Bethany, MO) passed away December 4, 2024, at Pearls II Eden for Elders in Princeton, MO at the age of 94 years.
She was born on August 14, 1930, to Ellis and Fern (Alexander) Shackelford in Mt. Moriah, MO.
Ruth graduated from Mt. Moriah School in 1948. She worked in the drug store in Mt. Moriah and also as a telephone operator in Bethany, Missouri. Later on she worked for Places Warehouse in Bethany, Missouri from which she retired.
She married Leslie “Fayne” Hamilton on October 9, 1950. To this union one daughter was born, Theresa “Colleen” who was born on their 7th wedding anniversary. They lived on a farm near Gilman City, Missouri.
Fayne passed away September 7, 1985.
Ruth was baptized into the Church of Christ on September 14, 1986, in Bethany, Missouri.
Ruth later married Lester “Earl” Combs on May 13, 1997. They lived in Blue Ridge until Earl passed away December 14, 2006. She then moved to Bethany, Missouri to be closer to her two remaining sisters. Later in life, to be closer to her daughter and grandkids, she moved to the Hal England Center in Princeton, Missouri.
In addition to her husbands, Fayne Hamilton and Earl Combs, she was preceded in death by her parents; siblings, Viola King, Maurine Preston, Nadine Kinnison, Lester Shackelford, Lawrence Shackelford, and Aaron Shackelford; two nieces and two nephews.
Ruth is survived by her daughter, Colleen (Iven) Jincks, Princeton, MO; two granddaughters, Kerri Jincks and Kelsey Jincks both of Princeton, MO; step daughters, Delynn (Alan) Walden, Frankson, TX, Debbie (Jim) Albercht, Carrollton, MO; step son, Bill (Phyllis) Combs, Greensboro, NC; six step grandchildren; step great grandchildren, and nieces and nephews.
Ruth’s favorite things were spending time with her family and friends. She enjoyed canning, gardening, playing cards with friends, and sewing. She was a loving wife and mother and was a very special mom to her daughter, Colleen and a wonderful and special grandma to Kerri and Kelsey.
Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Monday, December 9 at Roberson Funeral Home, Bethany, MO. Burial will follow in Hamilton Cemetery, Modena, MO. The family will receive friends from 10:00-11:00 a.m. Monday at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Hamilton Cemetery and/or Mercer County Ambulance in care of Roberson Funeral Home, P.O. Box 46, Bethany, MO 64424. Online condolences may be left at www.robersonfuneralhome.com.