William Wagner Ruth March 29, 1916 - June 30, 2003

      William Wagner "Bill" Ruth, 87, of Mt. Pleasant, died on Monday, June 30, 2003, at Henry County Health Center in Mt. Pleasant.

      The graveside service will be at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, July 3 in Forest Home Cemetery in Mt. Pleasant, with the Rev. Jeff Crawford officiating. Visitation will begin after noon on Wednesday, July 2 at Olson-Powell Memorial Chapel in Mt. Pleasant, with family present from 6 to 8 p.m. Memorials have been established for Calvary Baptist Church and Midwest Old Threshers.

      Survivors include his wife; two sons, Fred Ruth and his wife Joan of Ashgrove, Mo., and Sam Ruth and his wife Cathy of Bonaparte; three grandchildren, three step-grandchildren, five great-grandchildren and three step-great-grandchildren.

      He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Weston Ruth and two sisters, Hazel Diener and Elsie Ruth.