Obituary of Ruth Terry Styles

Ruth Terry Styles

September 11, 1949 – August 28, 2023

Ruthie was born September 11, 1949 in Jacksonville, Florida.  She was the middle child of Catherine A Cantwell Styles and Donald K Styles.  Larry Styles is her brother and Patricia (Styles) Maurer is her sister.  She was born with Down Syndrome and was given 6 months to live.  God had other plans for her and she far exceeded this expectation.  Ruthie’s mother died when she was 7 years old.  Her father remarried when she was 10 and she acquired two step sisters – Alice Grismore and Diana Richards.

She lived at home for many years and then went to live at Ridge State Home, where she flourished.    She was in plays and participated in Special Olympics.  She moved from the Ridge campus into a group home.  She changed group homes a couple times.  Her last placement took her on a road trip to California.   Toward the end of her life she lost her vision and her hearing was very bad. 

Ruthie was very remarkable.  She left an indelible mark on all of her family.  She taught us love and understanding.  Ruthie was loved very much.

Ruthie passed away peacefully just 2 weeks shy of her 74^th birthday on August 28, 2023 from natural causes.  Her family was by her side.   She is survived by her brother, Larry, his wife Veronica and their 3 children and families; sister Patti, her husband Bill and their 3 children and families, the family of step-sister Alice Grismore; step-sister Diana Richards and her family.