Leah Ruth (Spencer) Bell, 92, of Cahokia, IL, formerly of Yale, IL went home to be with her Heavenly Father on September 20, 2024, she passed in her home, in her sleep – just as she wanted.
Ruth was born on October 20th, 1931 in a log cabin in rural Clark County, IL. She was the third child and first daughter of Denzel William and Dorothy Mae (Parcel) Spencer. Ruth’s father sadly passed away when she was only 7 years old and her mother devotedly raised their four children on the family farm in rural Yale. After Ruth graduated from Casey High School in 1949, she set her sights on becoming a nurse. She moved to St. Louis, Mo to attend the St. Louis City Hospital School of Nursing. After graduating in 1952, she met and married Vernon Bell in 1953. Together they raised their three children; Wesley, Martha, and Steven. Ruth worked as an obstetrics nurse for many years and retired in 1994 from Belleville Memorial Hospital.
In addition to her parents, Ruth was preceded in death by her Step Father, Earl Spencer, Mother and Father-in-law, Amy (Dubois) and Jack Bell, her beloved husband Floyd Vernon Bell, her beloved daughter Marti White, and daughter-in-law Vicki Bell, siblings, Denzel Spencer, Billy Spencer, Alice Marrs, and step-sister Freda Ruffner Green, sisters-in-law Mary Ruth (Bell) Creasser, Rosemary Bell, Wilma Spencer and Pal Spencer, brothers- in-law Harold Bell, Robert Eugene Bell, J. Douglas Bell, Calvin Creasser, Chuck McFarland, Ted Marrs, Bill Rufner, Bob Green, and Chuck Warren. Ruth was also welcomed home by a few nieces and nephews.
Ruth is survived by her children, Wes (Kathy) Bell, of Cahokia, IL, Steve Bell of Yale, IL, Chuck (Vickie) White of Jones, Oklahoma, and Susan Bell Noblitt of Oblong, IL, her grandchildren, Colin White, Emily White, Aaron (Allison) White, Alaina White, Amber (Kevin) Farris, Wesley Bell, Thomas (Mariah) Bell, and Robert (Paula) Bell, her great grandchildren, Cason White, Kendall White, Paxton White, Bella Farris, Gemma White, Liberty Bell, Henry Farris, Ridge White, Stephen Bell, Sadie Bell, and Baby Bell due in March, a sister-in-law Myrna (Bell) McFarland, step-sister Janice Warren. Her many nieces and nephews will also remember her fondly.
To know Ruth was to know her love for the Lord, her family, and keeping her hands busy. Sewing was a true passion of Ruth’s. Over the decades of her life, she made countless baby quilts given with love to new blessings. Her quilts have lined many beds, but especially those of all her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren to keep them covered in her love. Her two granddaughters were often gifted matching dresses or outfits throughout their childhood, and her grandsons undoubtedly remember the summertime “jams.” Each stitch sewn was made with the love and prayers of a Godly woman.
Ruth rarely missed a church service while at home or while traveling. Her faith in the Lord was of utmost importance to her. If she was not busy working on a sewing project, one could often find her reading or studying her Bible. She also enjoyed singing hymns. Her distinct alto voice will be missed, but she was ready to meet her Lord! Ruth was a faithful, lifetime member of Maplewood Church of Christ, stating on many an occasion, “I do not remember not going to church.” In addition to Sunday services, Ruth enjoyed cooking Sunday dinner which always included yummy cookies, cakes, or pies for dessert, often inviting her brothers and sisters in Christ join her family, or delivering hot meals to the shut-ins.
Genealogy was also a pastime for Ruth and she enjoyed making connections to distant family members, finding cemeteries, and tracking down gravestones.
The family would like to thank Hospice of Southern Illinois for their assistance at the end of Ruth’s life. As a nurse, Ruth understood the importance of final care and was thankful for their support in her last months. Ruth made the decision to donate her body to science via the Washington University Medical Center. It was her hope that she might aid the medical community in finding a cure or prevention for Alzheimer’s Disease; a disease that afflicted many of her family members including her brother, sisters, and daughter.
A time of fellowship and celebration of Ruth’s life will be held on October 19, 2024 at Maplewood Church of Christ in Cahokia, IL, with visitation from 4:00 to 6:00 pm and service immediately following. And on October 20, 2024 at Yale Church of Christ in Yale, IL with visitation from 2:00 to 3:30 pm and service immediately following. A gravestone marking Ruth’s life is located at the Backbone Cemetery in rural Yale.
Ruth’s family is asking those who have received one of her quilts to bring them to drape over the back of the pews.
In lieu of flowers, Ruth requested that donations be made to Christian Family Services, 7955 Big Bend Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63119-2703
I would rather have a little rose from the garden of a friend
Than flowers strewn around my casket when my days on earth must end
I would rather have a living smile from one I know is true
Than tears shed round by casket when this world I bid adieu
Bring me all the flowers today whether pink or white or red
I would rather have one blossom now than a truckload when I am dead
1 Thessalonians 4:11 – aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed
John 14:3 – Jesus waits for us in heaven to receive us when the Master calls us home.
