Ruth Evelyn Bowen, 84, of Memphis, Tennessee, passed away at her home on Thursday, April 24, 2025, after a long and fulfilling life. Ruth was born on September 23, 1940, to Jack and Louise Bowen in Potts Camp, Mississippi. After she graduated from Potts Camp High School in 1958, she went on to Northwest Junior College in Senatobia, Mississippi, where she studied secretarial science. She had a rewarding career as a legal secretary and made many friends with law clerks and judges alike. Most notably, she served as an administrative assistant to The Honorable Harry W. Wellford, Judge of the United States Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals, for many years. Ruth later went on to serve as an administrative assistant to Tennessee Court of Appeals Judge (now Tennessee Supreme Court Justice) Holly Kirby. In her capacity as administrative assistant, Ruth had very close relationships with all of the people in her court families, many of whom Ruth stayed connected to over these many years. Ruth loved children, and she was lovingly known as “Aunt Ruthie” to her nieces and nephews and other children close to her family. She collected friends throughout her whole life—once you were Ruth’s friend, you remained Ruth’s friend forever.
 

Anyone who knew Ruth knows she was a bit sassy; she made friends easily because her joy and laughter were infectious. She enjoyed being with people and learning about the details of their lives. If she knew your birthday, chances are you received a card every year. And Ruthie loved to have fun—whether it was playing games, cards, or bingo, or just sharing a meal with friends—she loved it all. Her other favorite pastime was helping those in need. Ruth had a soft spot for helping organizations with a sympathetic storyline. She was also the go-to person for personal friends having a hard time. Her generosity was boundless, even until the end of her life. Ruth was preceded in death by her parents, Jack and Louise Bowen of Potts Camp; her brothers, John Bowen (Betty) of Oxford, and Billy Bowen (Mildred) of Potts Camp, and a sister Annette Trimble of Potts Camp. She is survived by her sister, Betty Brower of Winona, MS, and her nieces Dianne Burton (Bruce) of Memphis, Susan Eitel (Ken) of Plymouth, Minnesota, and Pam Hammond (Ronald) of Winona, MS, and one nephew, John David Brower (Laura) of Augusta, Georgia. She also left great-nieces and nephews and dozens other friends that she collected over the years and treated like family. Services will be held at Holly Springs Funeral Home in Holly Springs, MS, on Friday, May 2, 2025, at 4:00 p.m. preceded by a brief period of visitation at 3:30 p.m. with a burial following in Bethany Baptist Church Cemetery in Potts, Camp, MS.
 

Ruth supported many different types of organizations. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to Bethany Baptist Church at 1946 Bethany Rd, Potts Camp, MS 38659 or any charity of the donor’schoice.