Edna Ruth Marble Fortenberry passed away at her home on Saturday May 22, 2010 from a three year battle with cancer. Ruth was born February 27, 1932 to Charles Raymond Clarence and Annie Mae German in Ajo, AZ. She spent most of her childhood in the Willcox area. She met George Marble in 1948 and they were married on March 5, 1950. Ruth and George lived in Willcox, Safford and St. Johns, AZ. They had seven children which were mostly raised in the St. Johns area before George and Ruth moved to Thatcher, AZ in 1973. Ruth worked at the Dairy Queen in Safford for many years.

George became ill with lung cancer and passed away in 1985. Ruth met and married Claude Fortenberry. They lived in Bowie, AZ. In 2007 Ruth and Claude moved to Thatcher where Claude passed away shortly after.

During her life, Ruth was known for her genuine compassion for others. She had a ready smile and a cheerful laugh. She was a loving mother, wife and grandmother and would do anything to assist her family. She will be greatly missed and remembered as a person whose unselfish devotion to her children and grandchildren was a testimony of her boundless love.

Ruth is survived by her seven children, Ron (Beth), Don (Sharon), Diane (Jim) Skinner, Rick (Barbie), Judy Ford, Pam (Dean) Abraham, Shawna (Mark) Morgan. She has many beloved grandchildren, great grandchildren and great great grandchildren, sister Charlene (Al) Skinner of Willcox and brother Bud (Elaine) Clarence of New Mexico.

Funeral Services will be conducted Thursday, May 27, 2010 at 10 a.m. in the Thatcher LDS Stake Center. The family will receive friends at the Caldwell Funeral Chapel on Wednesday evening from 6-8 p.m. and one hour prior to services at the church.

Obit: McDougal's Caldwell Funeral Chapel, Safford, Arizona.

View online birth certificate.