Ruth Helen Seevers, 91, of West Portsmouth, Ohio passed into eternity on January 31, 2024, at the SOMC Hospice Center in Portsmouth. She was welcomed by her Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ, whom she and her husband, Donald, served faithfully their entire lives.
Ruth was born on June 30, 1932, in Parkersburg W.Va. to the late Lory F. and Blanche (Koehnlein) Brafford.
On June 10, 1951, she married the love of her life, Donald F. Seevers, at the Beechwood Heights Church of Christ in Parkersburg. They had over 72 years of love and devotion to one another in marriage. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by two sisters, Virginia Clegg, and Betty Roberts; two brothers-in-law, Ted Clegg and Ralph Roberts; and a sister-in-law, Bonnie Brafford.
Ruth is survived by her husband, Donald, of West Portsmouth; a brother, Lory F. Brafford, Jr. of Gretna, VA; as well as four sons: Donald F. Seevers II of Sun City Center, FL, Tim (Peggy) Seevers of Hillsboro, Mark (Cheryl) Seevers of West Portsmouth and Brad (Kimberly) Seevers of Lancaster. She is also survived by seven grandchildren, Tim (Jodi) Seevers, Isaac (Emily) Seevers, Leah (Ryan) Godlove, Ashley (Kyle) Dyer, Austin (Meredith) Seevers, Jessica (Ryland) Newman and Aaron (Ashley) Seevers; and 19 great-grandchildren.
Ruth and Don spent their entire lives serving churches as a minister and minister’s wife. They ministered to Christian Churches and Churches of Christ in Pomeroy, Greenup, KY, St. Albans, WV, Glouster, Lancaster, Belpre, and after retiring and moving to West Portsmouth, they have served with the Sand Hill Church of Christ in South Shore, KY for the past 13 years.
The Seevers’ home was always open to anyone who needed love, friendship, a meal or just an encouraging word. Ruth and Don practiced biblical hospitality often entertaining missionaries, traveling evangelists, musicians, Bible College students, and families who often were invited over for a meal following church services. She knew how to cook and make food go farther than it should to feed not only her family, but others as well.
As if raising four boys wasn’t enough of a job, she also worked outside the home with the Trimble Local Schools and eventually retiring from the Belpre City Schools.
Ruth also worked diligently in the church, often teaching Bible studies to women and children, she played the piano, led VBS, sang in the choir, and taught children how to play the bells. She spent countless summers working in church camp.
She enjoyed working in her flower garden and each year it had to get just a little bit bigger.
Her greatest pride and joy were her four sons who have followed in their dad’s footsteps to be ministers of the gospel of Jesus Christ. She loved her grandchildren and just recently told one of her caregivers that she had the greatest grandkids in the world.
Visitation for Ruth will be held at the Dry Run Church of Christ located at 22336 St. Rt. 73 in West Portsmouth on Tuesday from 5 to 7 PM and Wednesday from 9 to 10 AM.
A celebration of life service will be held at the church on Wednesday, February 7, 2024, at 10 AM. Burial will be in the East Lawn Memorial Park on Rt. 7 in Reno, OH.
Arrangements are under the direction of the Ralph F. Scott Funeral Home in Portsmouth.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to SOMC Hospice, 2201 25th St., Portsmouth, OH 45662 or to the Sand Hill Church of Christ, P.O. Box 117, South Shore, KY 41175.
