Florence Ruth Holt (95) of Efffingham

Florence Ruth Holt, 95, of Effingham, Illinois, graduated to Glory on Friday, December 9, 2022, at Lakeland Rehabilitation and Health Care Center in Effingham, Illinois.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, December 13, 2022 at Crossroots Church in Effingham. Burial will be in Woodlawn Cemetery in Effingham. Visitation will be held from 9:30 a.m. until the time of service Tuesday at the church. Johnson Funeral Home in Effingham is assisting the family. Memorials may be made to the Gideons International or donor’s choice. Online condolences may be shared by clicking here. 

Ruth was born on October 9, 1927, in Orange Park, Florida, the daughter of Henry Richardson Howard Sr. and Alice May (Baker) Howard. Ruth married Houston L. Holt on November 29, 1945 in Orange Park, Florida. He preceded her in death on January 25, 2007. Ruth loved God and her family and sharing her faith. When able she worshiped at the Effingham Assembly of God. She enjoyed spending time with family, woodworking, quilting, sewing, painting, traveling, and playing Parcheesi and Scrabble. She routinely concluded her goodbyes with the reminder, “Jesus loves you, and we do too.”

Ruth is survived by six children, Rhydonia (Virgil) Anderson of Forrest City, Arkansas; Charlotte (Monty) McIntyre of Ravenswood, West Virginia; Robert (Beth) Holt of Georgetown, South Carolina; Sharon (Mark) Chesnut of Effingham, Illinois; Daniel (Barbara) Holt of Murfreesboro, Tennessee; and Rhyta Hooks of St. Elmo, Illinois. In addition she is survived by twenty grandchildren, Zachary (Danni) McIntyre; Houston (Whitney) McIntyre; Anika (Rob) Sloan; Heather (Frank) Campagna; Heath (Ellen) Holt; Tonya (Mark) Kennedy; Tiffany (Rob) Rickey; Amy (Josh) Sublett; Jared (Shealyn) Chesnut; Jordan (Raelynne) Chesnut; Jennifer (Greg) DeMario; Laura (Nathan) Thomas; Shannon (Chris) Hood; Christopher Hooks; Timothy (Kendra) Hooks; Benjamin (Cherode) Hooks; Michelle Hooks; Nathaniel Hooks; Isaiah Hooks; and Hannah Hooks; thirty great-grandchildren; one step-great-grandchild; and long-time friend and caregiver, Peggy Myers.

Ruth was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Houston; grandson, Justin Chesnut; greatgranddaughter, Hallie McIntyre; and eleven siblings.