Ruth Hamilton Duvall

Ruth Hamilton DuVall passed away on Sunday, February 26 at Saline Memorial Hospice in Bryant. Ruth was born in Monticello, Arkansas, June 25, 1923.She was the daughter of Reverend J.M. and Essie Stephens Hamilton. Ruth grew up in Monticello and graduated from Hendrix with a degree in music. She taught music at Pine Haven Elementary in Bauxite for one year before becoming an executive secretary at Reynolds Mining Company. She worked there until she retired. Ruth met and married Grady Robert DuVall in September 1961 and became a stepmom to Gary DuVall and DeAnne DuVall Wilmoth. She was an active member of Benton United Methodist Church where she sang in the choir through the years and was a member of her "Covenant Sunday School Class". She loved her church and called her class a room full of saints. Ruth dearly loved her nephew John Hamilton and his wife Maxine Hamilton and grandnephews, Joe and Jeff Hamilton. She was especially fond of her seven granddaughters, Melinda Neeley, Jennifer Owens. Amanda Hawkins, Lori Reeves, Amy Watts, Cindy Moushegian (deceased) and Molly Spencer. She cherished each of her 13 great grandchildren and loved the times she was with them. She spread her wit and wisdom with her helpers in the last few years; her personal trainer Danny Muilenburg, Stacy Williams and Tara Hollinger. She cherished all of her friends, especially Freda Whitlock, a friend for over 60 years, and special neighbor, James Sherman. Her granddaughters, Amy Wilmoth Watts and Melinda Neeley shared these words about Ruth: Melinda said: "My grandma Ruth passed away this afternoon with dignity and grace. Just a few days ago, she told my sisters and me that she had led a wonderful, full life, and seemed so happy and at peace as she prepared to go "home". She spent several hours filling us with priceless words of wisdom that we will carry with us forever. This included a lovely metaphorical story about a "silver can". She described how she had used this imaginary can to store all of her daily experiences, whether good, bad, or indifferent. She would then re-open her can daily and decide which experiences and bits of advice to keep and to learn from, and which ones to discard. It was her way of trying to give us one last bit of guidance with our own lives. Rest peacefully, Ruth H. DuVall. We will love and miss you always. Amy Watts wrote: Ruth could make something small and everyday into an event and a treasure. A word, a memory, a colored scrap of light through the window, a red bird who paused a moment on a branch, she found a beauty in a pause that most would take for granted or never even notice. She always made you feel so special, as if you were the only one in the room. I will miss her hugs and her helpful advice. She would never miss a joke, even when you thought she might be too old to "get it," she did. With her passing, a little bit more of my family history wanes, dimming the lights that carry me home to Arkansas. The world will never be the same. Another treasure is gone. Graveside services will be at Ebenezer Cemetery at Tull, Arkansas on Thursday, March 2, 2017 at 10 a.m. In lieu of flowers please send donations to Benton First united Methodist Church, 200 North Market St. Benton, Ark. 72015, attention Church Building Fund; debt Reduction Fund. Online guest book at www.ashbyfuneralhome.com.