Ruth Wood Barbour age 90 of Fries, Virginia passed away on Saturday, October 29, 2011 at Roanoke Memorial Hospital in Roanoke, Virginia. Ruth was born on August 18, 1921 and was the daughter of William Pitt Wood and Gladys Vaughan Wood. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her two brothers Earl Wood and Robert Wood.

She is survived by her daughter and son in law Mary Barbour Morris and Gregory Allen Morris of Warrenton, Virginia; her son and daughter-in-law Michael James Barbour and Mary Ingles Barbour of Dublin, Virginia; grandsons Boyd Morris, Rafe Morris and Micah Barbour; great-grandchildren Kelsey, Brandy and Brooklynn Morris,; nephew Craig Wood and nieces Sandra Wood Marshall, Janice Wood Melton , Janet Wood Lydie and Robin Wood Funk.

Ruth was a 1939 graduate of Fries High School and a 1943 graduate of Madison College in Harrisonburg, Virginia. After her graduation from college she began a career as a public school teacher at Jackson Memorial High School in Austinville, Virginia. She thereafter taught in Pittsylvania County, Virginia where, as a high school science teacher, she was once recoginzed as the Teacher of the Year in the State of Virginia. Ruth left her career to raise her children Mary and Michael, but returned to teaching in 1973 as an elementary teacher at Providence Elementary School in Grayson County, Virginia where she taught a generation of students before her retirement. She was proud of all of her former students and nothing pleased her more than to encounter her former students as successful adults.

Throughout her retirement and until her death, Ruth was a volunteer at Twin County Community Hospital, Galax, Virginia, TCCH Director of Volunteer Services, Ellen Moretz, was Ruth's wonderful and steadfast friend. Ruth was also an active member of the Twin County Wellness Center. She was blessed by the friendship of her physical therapist and fitness instructor Teresa Roberts. Words cannot fully express the family's appreciation of Ellen and Teresa for their friendship with and concern for Ruth.

Ruth was a lifelong member of the Fries United Methodist Church and her funeral service will be held at the church at 10:00 AM on Tuesday, November 1, 2011 with Rev. Lee Thomas and Rev. Mike Jefferson officiating. A private interment will follow in the Fries Cemetery. The family will receive friends on Monday evening, October 31, 2011, from 7:30 until 9:00 PM at the Vaughan-Guynn Funeral Home in Galax.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorials may be made to the Fries United Methodist Church Building Fund, 629 Church Street, Fries, Virginia 24330 or to a charity of your choice.