Ruth Knight Simpson died at her home on Monday, October 1, 2012, after a period of declining health.
Graveside services will be held Thursday, October 4th at Cedardale Cemetery in Mullins at 11:00 a.m. Visitation will be held at Mullins Presbyterian Church following the graveside service.
Mrs. Simpson was born in Dillon, the daughter of Wilbur V. Knight and Mary Alice Martin Knight on July 27, 1919. She attended the public schools in Dillon and graduated from Dillon High in 1936. She attended Winthrop College where she graduated in 1940. She was a popular student at Winthrop and was in the May Court during her junior year. Her first experience in teaching after graduation was at Blenheim SC. She later taught in Mullins following her marriage to Dr. Thomas Rex Simpson. Her experience there was at Mullins High School and the Marion-Mullins Vocational Education School. Following her husband’s demise in 1971 she moved back to Dillon and taught at Gordon Elementary. It did not take long for her to become affiliated with several organizations; the Etudier Club, Dillon County Historical Society and the Garden Club to name a few. She was an avid bridge player and as one daughter said “a voracious reader often having two books
going at one time.” She was indeed a people lover who never met a stranger and was especially fond of children. She was a member of the Presbyterian Church in Mullins but moved her membership to the Latta Presbyterian when she returned to Dillon.
She is survived by a son Thomas Rex Simpson, Jr. (Ann) of Mullins; three daughters, Lynn Knight Simpson Hidell (Bill) of Little Elm, Texas, Miriam Johnson Simpson of Columbia, and Mary Elizabeth Simpson Green (Charles) of Searcy, Arkansas; five grandchildren, William Hidell, Kyle Hidell, Rex Simpson, Hughes Simpson, and Charles Green, Jr.
She was preceded in death by a brother, James Henry Knight; and two sisters, Frances Martin Knight and Ann McQueen Knight Mullikin.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be sent to Mullins Presbyterian Church, Mullins, SC or Latta Presbyterian Church, Latta, SC or to the charity of one’s choice.
