Betty Ruth Henninger's Obituary
Betty Ruth Armstrong Henninger was born March 6, 1921, in Stevenson, AL to Fulmer and Ruth Knox Armstrong. She died March 7, 2016. Much of her childhood was spent in various towns in Georgia and Florida as her family followed her fathers saw mill business. Nearly every summer was spent at Ranfurlie, the Knox family farm in Stevenson. In her late teens, she met Gene
Henninger, they fell in love and married December 14, 1941 in her family home in Deland, Florida. After World War II, they returned to Stevenson to live and raise their family. Their children are Jen Henninger Stewart, Gay Henninger Corbin (James), Sally Henninger Blackwell (Barry) and Charlotte Henninger Ryan (Tom). She is the proud grandmother of 12: Bert Stewart (Meredith), Seth Stewart (Jennifer), Jake Blackwell (Leslie), Josh Blackwell (Laura), Zack Blackwell (Diana), Kate Dial (Tim), Meg Prentice, Amanda Juneau (Cameron), Audrey Zebley (Ken), Ashley Harlan (Talbot), Alicia Jones (Brian), and Tommy Ryan, and the great-grandmother of 11. She is also survived by siblings Frances Smith and Jimmy Armstrong. She was preceded in death by her parents and brother Edward Fulmer Armstrong, Jr.
Betty Ruth quickly became active in the life of Stevenson. She and her family became members of the Stevenson Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Over the years she has taught children's Sunday school classes and Bible School, served on the Worship Committee, and has been active in the Cumberland Presbyterian Women's Ministry.
While her daughters were in Stevenson schools, Betty Ruth was an active participant in the P. T. A. and the Band Boosters. She is probably best remembered by that generation of students for coming to classes and assembly programs to read stories to the children, As adults, many of them fondly mentioned these times when they encountered her around town.
Through the years, Betty Ruth participated in various clubs and organizations. These include the Mother's Club, the Stevenson Book Club, The Tidence Lane Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, and the Jackson County Historical Association. An avid reader, she was thrilled with the creation of the Stevenson Library and has served on the Library Board and the
Friends of the Library.
During 1976, she worked tirelessly as the Chair of the Bi-Centennial Committee to get the railroad Depot donated to the city to be used as a Museum and served on its board. This committee accomplished a number of things in conjunction with the Bi-Centennial including moving the grave of the woman "buried standing up, old time crafts exhibit at the park, a play of Stevenson
history written by Earnestine Russell and Sue Smith, and a tour of homes. This group also asked Eliza B. Woodall to write the Stevenson Story, a history of our city. Betty Ruth served as proof reader and compiled the index for this volume.
Because of her love of Stevenson, Betty Ruth donated a plot of land to the city to be used as a park. Located behind the Post Office, it was named Armstrong Park in honor of relatives, Percy, Alice and Kathryn Armstrong, long time benefactors of our city.
In her spare time, Betty Ruth indulged her love of painting and at one time taught classes to aspiring artists. Her house is full of paintings she has done over the years. She was also an accomplished needlewoman, having made most of the dresses her daughters wore while they were growing up as well as doing embroidery, knitting; crocheting, needlepoint and French hand sewing. Most recently, she created several Baltimore Album quilts and a whole cloth quilt.
Funeral services will be held at the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Stevenson on March 12, 2016 at 11:00 am. Visitation will be March 11, 2016 from 6:00 to 8:00 pm at Rudder Funeral Home, Stevenson, Alabama. In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to the Stevenson Cumberland Presbyterian Church.
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