Ruth Sherman

Ruth Talley Sherman, of Wilson, North Carolina, passed away shortly after midnight May 29th, significantly (and predictably!) Memorial Day 2023.  She was 99 years young.  

A Memorial Service will be held Thursday, June 8 at 3:00 PM at the First United Methodist Church of Wilson.

PLEASE join us for a TRUE Celebration of Ruth’s Life immediately following the memorial service at 4812 Milliken Close, Wilson. 

Ruth was born on March 13, 1924 in Randleman, North Carolina.  She graduated in 1945 from The University of North Carolina Woman’s College in Greensboro with a degree in Education. She married the love of her life, Joel Sherman, in 1946, five months after their first date. Their amazing love affair lasted 58 years. 

Ruth and Joe spent 33 years in the US Navy living in over 10 different states and finally settling in San Diego, California, in 1970.  During their military days, she was especially active in both the military wives’ organizations and Rady’s Children’s Hospital Auxiliary in San Diego where she was a devoted life member sponsoring a child cancer patient every year beginning in 1995. She was blessed to remain in contact with some of her sponsored cancer survivors.  After retirement from the Navy in 1974, they established the “Olde Cracker Factory”, a historical building converted into an antique “shopping center” in downtown San Diego. They operated the business until 2004. When her husband’s health declined and he was unable to operate the business, Ruth ran it alone until she was 80 years old. 

In May, 2004, Ruth and her husband became residents of Wilson, NC.  She loved living in Wilson and she was a giver in every way. She especially loved and was active in her church, The First United Methodist Church of Wilson, Barton College, The Wilson Arts Council, and The Preservation of Wilson. She sat on the WilMed Healthcare Auxiliary Board for several years before retiring in 2010. But she especially loved her Tar Heels.  She was a founding member of the Whirligirls for the development of the Whirligig Park in Wilson. She loved giving. She was an avid bridge player and enjoyed her wonderful new found friends in the community. She loved gardening as well. She was a lover of politics and was active in politics well into her 90’s. 

To say she was the “life of a party” would be an understatement. She truly loved having fun. She was devoted to her family, to her sisters and to their families as well. She would do anything for her family and she was loved by all.

Ruth is survived by her two daughters, Joelyn Rhodes (Tom) and Talley Turner and six grandchildren, Tad Rhodes (Cindy) of Wilson, NC., Erin Gould (Scotty) of Wrightsville Beach, NC, Sherman Covington (Chris) of High Point, NC, Taz Turner (Jeanette) of Wrightsville Beach, NC, Tracy McDonough (Jimmy) of New York, NY, and Tobi Bissett (Nicholas) of Tampa, FL, and 14 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband Capt. Joel Herbert Sherman, of Fayetteville, and her parents, Frank Talley and Etta Saunders Talley of Randleman. She was one of seven girls. Eugenia (Jinks) Milliken, Mildred Crawford, Dorothy (Dot) Williams, Frances Hughes, Ann Coghill, and Mary Upton all preceded her in death. 

The family wishes to thank Hospice and the wonderful caregivers who were devoted to her for the last many years and who became important members of her extended family.

Her final resting place will be at Arlington National Cemetery where she will be reunited with her husband once again.