Ruth Helen (Hudson) Edwards, 90, passed away on Sunday, July 9, 2017. Ruth was born March 5, 1927 north of Smithton, Pettis County, Missouri to William Elbert and Francis (Scott) Hudson. She attended Arator Country School through the 3rd grade. The family moved to Smithton in August 1935. She attended Smithton Public Schools, graduating May 1944. She attended Kansas City Secretarial School and then worked to the Farm Credit Administration in Kansas City until July 30, 1945, when she became ill with Polio. In 1946, she met Fred Edwards, while he was on leave from the U.S. Navy. On June 3, 1949 Ruth and Fred Edwards were married at East Sedalia Baptist Church, Sedalia, Missouri, with the Rev. Walter P. Arnold officiating. Shortly thereafter, they moved to San Diego, California were Fred was stationed. During their marriage, they travelled from San Diego to San Francisco, California; Subic Bay, Philippine Islands; Millington, Tennessee; and Norfolk, Nebraska. Fred retired after serving 22 years in the U.S. Navy, having served during World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War.

They returned to central Missouri after Fred’s retirement on October 14, 1963 to begin farming. Ruth worked at Archias’ Seed Store, Inc. in Sedalia, Missouri from January 1964 to June 1972.

They moved to Merriam Woods, Missouri in 1975. Ruth worked for Silver Dollar City from June 1976 to July 1990. In April 1995, they moved into the “House That Fred Built.”

Ruth was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Fred Edwards; two brothers, William Elbert Hudson II and Robert Lee Hudson; two sisters, Mary Frances Lambert and Eunice Lillian Smith and daughter in law, Karla Jo Edwards. Ruth is survived by her daughter Lyndall Ruth Cary and husband Jerry of Independence, Missouri; her son Mark R. Edwards of Branson; six grandchildren: Michele Lynn Carpenter, Michael Edward Cary, Matthew William Cary and wife Nicole Cary, Misty Ann Cary, Joseph Aaron Edwards, Rachel Anne Edwards; five great-grandchildren: Dakota Isaiah, Alexis Denise, Landon Douglas, Brayden Clinton, and Ethan Matthew Cary; one sister-in-law Dorothy Hudson of Jefferson City, Missouri and several nieces and nephews.

The visitation will be held from 10:00 A.M. until time of service on Thursday, July 13th at Greenlawn Funeral Home in Branson, Missouri. The funeral service will follow at 11:00 A.M. and burial will be at Missouri Veterans Cemetery in Springfield, Missouri at 1:00 P.M.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to First Baptist Church in Forsyth, Missouri; Gideon’s International; and Share It Forward, c/o Silver Dollar City.

Provide comfort for the family by planting a tree in memory of Ruth Helen Edwards (Hudson), please visit our Heartfelt Sympathies Store.