Gretna..…Frances Ruth Turner Oakes of Gretna died Monday, June 12th in Altavista, VA at the age of 93. She was born on a farm in Pittsylvania County on May 3rd, 1930 to Gordon and Nora Turner. She was predeceased by her husband Maurice F. Oakes who she married on July 7, 1951. She was his loving wife, caregiver, and best friend throughout their 60 year marriage. In addition to her husband and parents, she is predeceased by her two sisters Katherleen T. Marshall and Louise T. Cundiff. She was a loving daughter, sister, mother and grandmother.

Ruth attended Radford College before becoming an Army wife, and she cherished the time that she and Maurice spent in Germany where they became a family of three. She enjoyed working as a nursing assistant for Dr. Beaton and later as a secretary at Gretna schools and in Maurice's insurance office. Being such a quiet lady, she had a surprising ability to tell a funny joke or story. She modestly shared her writings of local and family history, had a talent for floral design and was a long-standing member of the Gretna Garden Club, serving as their President multiple times. She created beautiful front door displays each Christmas for many years. She loved her Piney Fork Baptist Church family and was active in many areas of church service throughout her life.

She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Ellen and Bob Dodson of Altavista, VA and by her grandsons; Jonathan Dodson of Atlanta, GA and Christopher Dodson of Barnardsville, NC. She is also survived by her Oakes family (Jean Cannington, Nancy Jones, Dwight and Christine Oakes, Janice and David Stocks, Tracy and Lenna Lee Oakes), many nieces, nephews and cousins, and by special friend and caregiver, Myrna Richardson.

Funeral service will be conducted at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 17, 2023 at Colbert-Moran Chapel by Reverend Tyler R. Daniels. Interment will follow at Carl O. Moran Memorial Garden. The family will receive friends on Friday evening, June 16, 2023 from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Colbert-Moran Funeral Home, and mid-afternoons to early evenings at the residence of Ellen and Bob (2215 Beech Avenue, Altavista, VA).

The family suggests that memorial contributions be made to Piney Fork Baptist Church (2145 Piney Road, Gretna, VA 24557), or Friends of the Blue Ridge (P. 0. Box 20986 Roanoke, VA 24018). Ruth's hope for those she leaves behind is that we all make great memories with friends and family, as she found her memories to be such a blessing in her last years.

Colbert-Moran Funeral Home, Gretna is assisting the family.  Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.colbertmoran.com.