Erma "Ruth" Pauley Thompson

Erma “Ruth” Pauley Thompson, 92, entered her heavenly home on Saturday, December 7, 2024, after a lengthy battle with cancer. Ruth’s life was completely devoted to God and her family. Ruth was a 1950 graduate of Floyd High School, and also graduated from West Virginia Business College. She had been a member of Floyd Baptist Church since 1962. For many years she was the Sunday School teacher for the four year old class. She also gave freely of her lovely  soprano voice as a member of the church choir for over 50 years.

Ruth was a meticulous housekeeper, always busy. She was a superior seamstress. She loved her family. She always made Christmas fun by having everyone go on a scavenger hunt with clue after clue until a present was discovered at the end. That tradition has been carried over to several homes in the family. Ruth was also active in the quilting group, Christian Women of Floyd County. She hemmed over 1,500 quilt tops over the years to be donated to those in need.

“Ruthie” as she was known to many children, provided childcare for over 250 children in Floyd. She provided this service for about 35 years. The children she kept adored her, and it was reciprocal. She was always ready to read to a child, or help someone at the piano who was just beginning to learn how to play. She provided many life lessons each day to everyone she encountered. Most of the time, there was a scripture quote that went along with what she was trying to get across. As her mother before her, Ruth knew the Bible inside out.

Ruth was born at home, near the Haycock community outside Floyd on November 23, 1932. She was the youngest child of Oatley Burke Pauley and Virginia Alice Cockram Pauley. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband of 61 years, Bain A. Thompson; four sisters, Aldene Pauley, Ercel P. Murray, Christine P. Patterson, and Mildred P. Lloyd; two brothers,  William “Bud” Pauley and Norman Pauley.

Ruth is survived by her three children and their spouses, David (Angela) Thompson, Floyd, Paula (Bruce) Smith, Copper Hill, and Darrell (Sheila) Thompson, Floyd; six grandchildren and their spouses, Amanda (Alex) Wilkens, Christiansburg, Robert Bain (Colleen) Smith, Roanoke, Katie Smith (fiancé Mitch Caudill), Blacksburg, Marlena (Caleb) Chaffin, Floyd, Christopher (Kelly) Thompson, Catawba, and Andrew (Susanna) Thompson, Radford; and ten great-grandchildren, Rylan Chaffin, Kyleigh Chaffin, Demitrious Dyer, Aubrey Chaffin, Beckham Wilkens, Asher Chaffin, Nora Smith, Evelyn Ruth Thompson, Warren Thompson, and Wyatt Smith.

The family would like to thank members of the Medi Home Hospice for their wonderful help with Ruth.

The family will receive friends on Thursday, December 12, 2024 from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. in the Maberry Funeral Home Chapel.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, December 13, at 1:00 p.m. at Floyd Baptist Church with Rev. Terry Semones, Rev. Dan Agee, and Rev. Joe Womack officiating. Interment will follow in Jacksonville Burial Ground.

Flowers are appreciated, or donations to Medical Charities of Floyd County would be wonderful as well.