Obituary of Betty Ruth Fairchild
Betty Ruth Fairchild died peacefully on December 15, 2023 in Lexington, KY at the age of 91. She was born Betty Ruth Swanson on October 11, 1932 in Calhoun, Georgia to Jim and Nancy Swanson.
She is survived by her sister, Katherine (Swanson) Quinn of Calhoun; her four children Vicki (Joe) Dumas of Athens, AL, Nancy (Jim) Walker of Largo, FL, Jeanie (Scott) Lemaster of Nicholasville, KY, and James (Cynthia) Fairchild of Fleming Island, FL; 11 grandchildren; 9 great-grandchildren; and many cherished nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband Gene Fairchild; her parents Jim and Nancy Swanson, her brother Howard Swanson; her older sister Ida (Swanson) Neal; a grandchild; a great-grandchild; and her beloved grandparents, John and Mary Lou Gilbert.
Betty was a curious child with a thirst for knowledge and insisted she attend school early, although she was not formally enrolled until the appointed age. She graduated from Red Bud School and attended Tennessee Temple College. There, she met Gene, the love of her life, and they married on April 12, 1952. Although from a young age, Betty aspired to be a home economics teacher, her own home became her classroom, teaching her children to be creative and critical thinkers. She was a devoted military wife, as Gene served in the U.S. Army, traveling and making homes for their children in 7 different states and Germany over the course of his career. She exhibited strength and fortitude when Gene was often training in the field and when he deployed to Korea and Vietnam. Betty and Gene loved to fish and would often be found on a creekbank, riverbank, or the Gulf of Mexico reeling in "a big one."
Betty accepted Christ as her personal Savior at a young age and remained steadfast throughout her life. She was blessed with endless energy, talents and skills which she delighted in sharing with her church, friends, and family. Her kind heart called her to serve in her church and community by cooking Wednesday night dinners for the entire congregation, teaching others cooking, cake decorating, crafting, crocheting, quilting, and sewing. She worked full-time as a cake artist, apartment manager, and in clerical positions - while still creating a loving home for her husband and children. She took the most pride in passing on her creativity and handicraft skills to her children and grandchildren. She was an avid reader and passed on her love of books and reading to all four of her children. All who knew her will always remember her creativity, strength, wisdom and most importantly, her great love of the Lord.
Her memorial service will be held at Brannon Funeral Home in Calhoun, GA on Saturday, January 20th, 2024 with time of service to be determined. A graveside committal service at Fain Cemetery, also in Calhoun will be held following a short visitation. Betty and family would appreciate in lieu of flowers, a donation be made to Breaking Free Ministry, which is her daughter Jeanie's ministry; one that transforms the lives of women who suffer from abuse, addiction, and sexual trafficking. (BreakingfreeKY.org/donate)