Obituary of Ruth Imogene Rea
Please share a memory of Ruth to include in a keepsake book for family and friends.
Ruth Imogene Rea, 99, of Dunlap TN and formerly of Benton IL, passed away Wednesday, April 11th, 2018 at Valley View Assisted Living Center in Whitwell TN.
Imogene was born in the Mt. Pleasant community in Franklin County, IL August 31st, 1918, the daughter of William Napoleon Payne and Libbie (King) Payne. She was joined in marriage to Dallas Palmer Rea, September 7th, 1940 and he preceded her in death March 30th, 2006.
Imogene retired from a 20-year teaching career at Benton Consolidated High School, Benton IL in 1979, having attained her Bachelors and Masters of Science in Education degrees from Southern Illinois University-Carbondale. Prior to her teaching career, she and her mother owned and operated Payne’s Beauty Salon in Sesser IL. She was a member of Red Bank Baptist Church in Chattanooga, TN.
Imogene was preceded in death by her husband, Dallas; her parents; brothers- and sisters-in-law; William Arthur and Daphna Rea, John Wesley and Kathleen Rea and Delton Glynn Rea Sr.; sisters- and brothers in-law, Enid Rowena (Rea) and A.C. “Cook” Sanders and Cleona Ethel (Rea) and Carl George.
She is survived by her son, Richard (Deidre) Rea of Dunlap TN; grandson, Jesse (Caroline) Rea of Princeton KY; granddaughter, Dr. Libby (Kirby) Ownby of Maryville TN; great-grandchildren, Jacob, Ethan, Kaden and Emily Claire; a sister-in-law, Mrs. Delton Glynn Rea Sr., of Griffin GA and many nieces and nephews.
The family extends their heartfelt gratitude to the staff of Valley View Assisted Living Center in Whitwell, for their loving care of Imogene.
A memorial of life service will be held Saturday, April 14th, 11:00 a.m. CDT at the Standefer-Reed Funeral Home in Dunlap TN with the family receiving guest 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. CDT Friday, April 13th and 10:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m. CDT prior to the memorial service. Interment will be Friday April 20th, 11:00 a.m. in the Mt. Pleasant Cemetery, Valier IL. Memorial contributions may be made to the First Baptist Church, Dunlap TN Building Fund.
Share Your Memory of
Ruth
We encourage you to use our beautifully designed interactive online tributes to pay your respects. Leave a condolence, share a memory, post a photo, light a candle and more!
Taking the time now to arrange your funeral is one less thing your loved ones will need to worry about once you’ve passed. Pre-planning and pre-paying your funeral is one of the most thoughtful gifts you can give to your family.
Our local florists are committed to offering only the finest floral arrangements backed by their professionalism and prompt service.