Obituaries

Ruby Helen Carter Cloyd

Photo of Ruby Helen Carter Cloyd
Ruby Helen Carter Cloyd, 94, of Siloam Springs, Ark., died March14, 2016 at Siloam Springs Nursing and Rehablitation. She was born January 29, 1922 at Burkesville, KY to Clarence Walter Carter and Lena Elsie Aaron Carter. She was the second child in a family of 10 children, seven of whom preceded her in death. She attended school in Cumberland County, KY and went to Western Kentucky University. She started teaching school in Cumberland County in 1930 and did so for three years. In 1941, she married Henry Clay Stephens. In 1944, he was killed in action in Italy, leaving her with two small sons. She went to Okmulgee, Okla. where she worked in the military personnel section Glennan General Hospital, a military hospital until it closed to later become Okmulgee Tech. She returned to Kentucky, and later in 1946 married Ralph Cloyd. They moved to Siloam Springs, Ark. that year and have remained here. Two daughters were born here. In 1951, she started teaching in the public school system and taught for more than 30 years here and in Springdale. During that time, she went back to college and completed two degrees from the University of Arkansas. She was a member of Pi Mu Epsilon, a national mathematical fraternity. She is survived by her husband of 69 years, Ralph Cloyd, sons, Randall C. Stephens (Hilary) of Columbia, Md. and Jerry C. Stephens (Linda) of Riverview, Fla. She is also survived by two daughters, Linda C. Miller and Judy A. Arbia of Siloam Springs, Ark. She is also survived by 11 grandchildren, five step-grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren, eight step-great-grandchildren, and seven step-great-great-grandchildren. She is also survived by one brother, Philip Carter (Vivian) of Klamath, Calif. and one sister, Dian Watkins of Bakersfield, Calif. She was preceded in death by her parents, brothers, Leslie Forest Carter, Kenneth Walter Carter, and Robert Howard Carter, four infant siblings, and one great grandchild, Christopher Daughtery. Helen was a long time member of the First Christian Church of Siloam Springs. She was also a member of Delta Kappa Gamma, the Siloam Springs Classroom Teachers Association, Benton County CTA, Arkansas Educational Association, National Education Association, and the Siloam Springs Parent Teacher Association. Funeral services will be 2 p.m., Thursday, March 17, 2016 at First Christian Church, Siloam Springs, Ark. with Pastor Vance Eubanks officiating. Burial will follow at Oak Hill Cemetery, Siloam Springs. Visitation will be from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., Wednesday, March 16, 2016 at Wasson Funeral Home, Siloam Springs, Ark. In lieu of flowers, donations are requested to be made in her name to Siloam Springs High School Scholarship Fund, 700 N. Progress Ave., Siloam Springs, Ark. 72761. To sign the online guestbook, visit www.wassonfuneralhome.com.

Published March 16, 2016

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