Ruth Atwood

Ruth Barnes Atwood, 93, of Sugar City, died Sunday, May 3, 2009, at Homestead Assisted Living in Rexburg of causes incident to age. She was born September 16, 1915, in Thomas, Idaho to Louis and Vetris Isabel Adams Barnes. She attended school in Thomas and graduated from Thomas High School. She attended Idaho State University and earned a Bachelor Degree in Education.

She married Wilbert Rogers Atwood on November 6, 1940, in Rexburg. Their marriage was later solemnized in the Idaho Falls LDS temple. After their marriage they lived in Pingree, Weippe, Blackfoot, and they have lived in Sugar City since 1949. She taught school at Rockford Elementary before she was married, and taught second grade for years in the Sugar-Salem School District. She retired after 32 years of teaching, having influenced thousands of students. After her retirement, they spent their winters in Parker, Arizona and Hurricane, Utah.

She was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

She loved to travel, camp and do temple work. She loved her family.

She is survived by her husband, Wilbert of Sugar City; children, Roger (Nancy) Atwood of Rexburg, Steven (Collette) Atwood of Arco, Julie (Bruce) Anderson of West Valley City, Utah; sisters, Wilma Merrill of Salt Lake City, Elna Turner of Riverside, Idaho, Glenda (Robert) Lanza of Elk Grove, California; 14 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, two brothers and a sister.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, May 7, 2009, at the Sugar City LDS Stake Center with Bishop Russell Thurston officiating. The family will receive friends Thursday morning from 10:00 to 10: 45 a.m. at the stake center prior to services. Burial will be in the Riverside-Thomas Cemetery under the direction of Flamm Funeral Home.