Obituary of Ruth Ann Stuart Brinegar

Ruth Ann Stuart Brinegar, age 74, of Charlotte, NC, for over the last 50 years, passed away on Tuesday, September 19, 2017 at the Springs Memorial Hospital in Lancaster, South Carolina. She was the beloved daughter of the late Thomas Robert (T.R.) Stuart and (Dorcas) Alice Boyd Stuart. Ruth worked for Southern Bell (now known as AT&T) for over 45 years as a manager and Customer Service Representative in their business office here in Charlotte, NC. Because of her diverse knowledge and skills in code reading, she was asked to return to work as a contract employee even after her retirement. In 1972 she became a quiet part of the Women's movement for equal rights, when she was the first female to be promoted to a management position at Southern Bell. This quiet gesture by an unassuming woman helped to move woman's rights forward in ways she herself never realized until many years later. Ruth was a long-time member of Grace United Methodist Church on Woodlawn Road, Charlotte, NC for over 25 years. She was a children's Sunday school teacher for thirteen of those years. This was her love and her passion. During the 1990's she served as President of the United Methodist Women, as well as holding several other offices in her church. While serving her church she was rewarded with many long-time/lifetime friendships. She enjoyed flower gardening and cooking and baking for her family during the holiday seasons whether it was Thanksgiving, Christmas or Easter. She enjoyed both crossword puzzles as well as reading novels. She had a special place in her heart for her feline friends, having had many over the years. No matter which church she was a member of, she was always a deeply religious and loving person, who lived her faith and taught her beliefs to her grandchildren. This is her greatest legacy. In addition to her late parents, Ruth is preceded in death by her late husband Wayne Conrad Brinegar who passed away on January 4, 2017 and her late sister Roberta "Bobbie" Harris who passed away in 2015. Ruth is survived by her daughters, Carol McLaughlin and her husband Mark McLaughlin of Charlotte, North Carolina and Paula Rathbun of Lancaster, South Carolina; and her four grandchildren, Dan Rathbun and his wife Amanda Rathbun, Joan Gallant and her husband Doug Gallant, Taylor Furr and his wife Cassandra Furr, and Keri Rathbun. She is also survived by her great-granddaughters Nevaeh Rathbun and Aubrea Rathbun and several nieces. Relatives and friends are invited to celebrate Ruth's life at her Memorial Service at 1:00PM on Saturday, October 7, 2017 at Woodlawn Baptist Church 4622 Nations Crossing Road, Charlotte, NC 28217. The family will receive guests and visitors immediately following the memorial service in the Senior Building. Interment will be private. Those who wish to honor Ruth's memory may make contributions to Woodlawn Baptist Church 4622 Nations Crossing Road, Charlotte, NC 28217 or to Grace United Methodist Church, 737 East Woodlawn Road, Charlotte, NC 28209. Service arrangements in care of Hankins and Whittington.