Ruth Evangeline Garrett

   Cause of her death was Pneumonia, broncho diffuse, carcinoma left ovary & extensive abdominal metastases.

  General Notes:

In a March 12, 2008 interview at the home of Ruth Garrett Adkins Hill in Goochland Co., VA, , Ruth relates how, when she was at Woodrow Wilson Junior High School in Roanoke, VA, that Ruth Garrett Shannon was her teacher. Mrs. Shannon remarked about the Ruth Garrett name they had in common and if they were related. When Ruthie asked her mother she was told that her teacher was a Garrett cousin and a family story was shared.

Checking the Roanoke City Directory reveals that Ruth Shannon came to Roanoke, VA and was teaching at Woodrow Wilson Junior High School about 1940 and remained there until 1954. In 1955 she went to Andrew Lewis High School in Salem, Roanoke County, VA and remained there until 1959. When she came to the Roanoke Valley she lived at 133 Lewis Avenue in Salem and then moved to 423 Market Street in Salem about 1953. She is last listed at that address in 1959.

Virginia, Birth Records, 1864-2014
Name: Ruth Evangeline Garrett
Gender: Female
Birth Date: 23 May 1897
Birth Place: Henry, Virginia
Father: James Price Garrett born Hanry Co., VA
Mother: Anna Lee Mitchell born Franklin Co., VA

Ruth is buried next to her brother, William, and his wife, Marie, in Section 2 of Sherwood Memorial Park in Salem, VA. The plots are next to the road just East of the Sherwood Mausoleum / Administrative Office.

Ruth's obituary appeared in the Roanoke Times on February 10 & 11, 1960:
February 10 ... Mrs. Ruth G. Shannon
Mrs. Ruth Garrett Shannon, 62, 423 Market St. Salem, died last night in a Roanoke Hospital.
She had taught a number of years in Roanoke City schools, and had been a member of the faculty at Andrew Lewis High School until 1958.
Surviving are one son, John S. Shannon, Salem; three brothers, W. S. Garrett, Roanoke, J. Paul Garrett, Largo, Florida, and Grady Garrett, Richmond; four sisters, Mrs. H. N. Dyer [Kate], Martinsville, Mrs. Alma Coltrane, Greensboro, NC, Mrs. Gerard W. King [Rachel], Charlotte, NC, and Mrs. T. G. Tinby [Anna Mae], Beaver, PA.
The body is at John M. Oakey and Son, Salem.
The family requests that flowers be omitted.
February 11 ... Mrs. Ruth G. Shannon
Funeral for Mrs. Ruth Garrett Shannon, 62, 423 Market St. Salem, who died Tuesday, will be at 4 P.M. today at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Salem, conducted by the Rev. Frederick Griffith. Burial will be in Sherwood.
Pallbearers will be G. A. Scruggs, John Lee Logan, Howard S. Rice, Joseph S. Hachman, B. L. Givens and Dr. William S. Garrett Jr.

  Medical Notes:

Virginia, Death Records, 1912-2014
Name: Ruth Garrett Shannon (divorced)
Residence: 323 Market Street, Salem, VA
Occupation: teacher
Gender: Female
Race: White
Age at Death: 62
Birth Date: 23 May 1897
Death Date: 9 Feb 1960
Death Place: Roanoke, Virginia
Burial: Sherwood Cemetery, Salem, VA
Registration Date: 16 Feb 1960
Father: James Price Garrett
Mother: Anna Price
Certificate Number: 1960004510
Informant: John Shannon [son] of 323 Market Street, Salem, VA

  Noted events in her life were:

• Occupation: Public School Teacher (1920) / Woodrow Wilson Jr High in Roanoke, VA in the 1940s / in 1955 she began teaching Math at Andrew Lewis High in Salem, VA.

Ruth married George Thomas Shannon. (George Thomas Shannon was born on 1 Jul 1900 in Virginia, died on 29 Aug 1969 in Polk Co., Florida and was buried in Myrtle Hill Memorial Park, Tampa, Hillsborough Co., Florida.)