Ruth Hutching was born March 31, 1929 in Athens, Alabama to the late Clarence and Helen Hutching. Ruth was one of 13 children (A set of twins passed away at birth.) Her siblings were William, Edith, Mary, Omer, Erman, James, Jimmy, Rachel, Cecil and Dorothy (Dot).
At the age of 12 years, her parents brought their large family and settled in Apopka, Florida. When Ruth was 25 years of age, she met and married Lyman Lee Carter. Together they had 5 daughters, Rosemary, Marcia, Sandra, Susan and Theresa. They raised their girls in church, attending Wekiva Springs Baptist Church and Rock Springs Baptist Church where Lyman served as a Deacon and all were very active in every aspect of the church. Lyman was a carpenter by trade and Ruth was a homemaker and great cook. She also made her girls beautiful clothes and taught her girls how to cook and do household chores.
The carter family lived in several rental homes in the Apopka area and finally bought their first home at 511 Sand Ave, Apopka. The modest home had two bedrooms, one larger than the other. It was furnished with 2 double beds and 1 single bed and had one bathroom. Poor Lyman had to share one bathroom with 6 women! Ruths’ favorite pastime, which she shared with her girls, was to play Scrabble. We all played and still do. Ruth, at 91 almost completely blind, could still beat us! We were very competitive and didn’t have to let her win, she did just fine on her own! She also loved to garden and always had the most beautiful yard in any neighborhood she lived in!
When Lyman passed away suddenly in 1975, Ruth went to work at JM Fields and later at Champagne Color, a film developing plant, as a supervisor. In 1985, She rekindled a friendship and later married Henry Cartrette. Henry had worked with Lyman and lived with them for a while, many years ago. Henry was a widower with 4 lovely daughters; Linda, Diana, Renee’ and Cheryl Ann. Ruth immediately claimed them as her own and they became a part of our family. She went from having 5 daughters to having 9! Although we were all grown by now, we became one big happy family. Ruth moved to Plymouth where she and Henry remodeled his home, reopened his nursery
and called it, “The Ivy Ranch”. On May 11th, 1995, after a battle with cancer, Henry passed away.
Ruth then moved to Fruitland Park where she met Robert Canavan of Washington, Michigan. The two married on March 21, 1998. From many road trips to cruising in the Caribbean and Alaska, together they enjoyed retirement. Robert himself had 6 adult children; Patrick, Jeff, Suzanne, Debra, Donna and Janice, and several Grandchildren. While they all lived out of state, they loved Ruth dearly and she loved them all the same, looking forward to any opportunity to spend time with them. In 2006, Bob and Ruth moved back to Apopka to be close to Ruths daughters due to her declining eyesight and diagnosis of Macular Degeneration. On December 9th, Bob passed away.
During her life, Ruth thoroughly enjoyed working, had a great passion for plants and gardening and even learned how to play the Organ after becoming legally blind. Ruth loved a good laugh, singing a sweet song, and a good old fashioned tea party, but Ruths greatest passion of all was being a Mother and Grandmother. She was always proud to share that she had, “18 Grandchildren, 15 Great Grandchildren, and 1 Great Great Grandson!”
Ruth, a wonderful Wife, Mother, Grandmother and Friend, we will miss her deeply, but we are all so thankful for the lifetime of beautiful memories she has left us with.
Services for Ruth will be held at Thrive Church (951 N. Park Ave. Apopka, FL 32712) A private family viewing starting at 11am, Public viewing at 11:30am and 12pm Service. Graveside service to follow at Edgewood-Greenwood Cemetery in Apopka.