Ruth Lindsey

Ruth Crawford Lindsey was born on December 2nd, 1935, in Vanndale, Arkansas to Rivers and Theodora Crawford. Her childhood was spent with her 4 sisters and her loving parents. She graduated as valedictorian from Vanndale High School in 1953 and later earned two bachelor’s degree in Biblical Studies and English from Lee University in Cleveland, TN. She then went on to get a master’s degree in English from Arkansas State University in 1975.

For 13 years, she was a missionary-teacher in Brazil, South America, where she helped to establish a Bible Training School and an elementary school. “I marvel that God called me—a timid, bashful teenage cotton-picker—to be a missionary,” she once said. From 1975 to 2002, she taught English at Lee University and received the Excellence in Teaching award in May of 2002.

Ruth married Jack Lindsey in June of 1979, and they made their home in Cleveland, TN. She was an active member of the North Cleveland Church of God and the Unity Sunday School class, a participant in the Martha Ministry, and an intercessor in the Ladies Prayer and Praise ministry.

Ruth’s accomplishments were many. She was a wonderful teacher, even producing her own “textbooks” for the elementary school she helped begin in Brazil along with three other women. She was an excellent cook and gardener; she made the best peanut brittle that many can attest to, and she also canned anything you can name such as green beans and peas. She was a thoughtful host; she loved to entertain people at her home for dinners. Most of all, she was a kind and godly friend, sister, daughter, and wife; her dry sense of humor and infectious laugh kept everyone smiling.

Ruth was preceded in death by her loving husband, Jack Lindsey; her father and mother, Rivers and Theodora Crawford; her sisters, Evelyn Bowles and Ruby Russell; her brother-in-law, Vurnie Russell; her brother-in-law, Bobby Hess; and her nephew, James Lewis Bowles.

She is survived by two of her sisters, Brenda Crawford of Cherry Valley, Arkansas, and Carol Hess of Wynne, Arkansas; her brother in law, James Bowles; four nieces, Rhonda Russell of Pasadena, California, Sonya Jackson and her husband Jimmy Jackson of Rockwall, Texas, Holly Barrow and her husband Brian Barrow of Eads, Tennessee, and Pamela Prince and her husband Brandt Prince of Auburn, Alabama; three nephews, Ron Russell of Portland, Oregon, Rick Bowles of Orlando, Florida, Steve Hess and his wife Lavon Hess of Wynne, Arkansas. Surviving her also are four step-children—Wanda Payne, Jackie Poteet, Tim Lindsey, and Bradford Lindsey—as well as numerous great-nephews and great-nieces, and brothers- and sisters-in-law.

A funeral service is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. on March 14, 2023, at the North Cleveland Church of God Chapel with Reverend Wendell Smith officiating.

Visitation will precede the service at noon.

Interment will following the service at Sunset Memorial Gardens.

Serenity of Cleveland Funeral Home will be overseeing arrangements.