Ruth Vera Baggs Guy

Ruth Vera Baggs Guy, 91, of Charleston, South Carolina, wife of Robert Hutchings Guy entered into eternal rest Thursday, November 15, 2018, surrounded by her husband and daughters. Her graveside service will be held Sunday, November 18, 2018 at James Island Presbyterian Churchyard, 1632 Fort Johnson Road at 2:00 p.m. The family will receive friends Saturday from 11:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. in J. Henry Stuhr, Inc. Downtown Chapel, 232 Calhoun Street.

Born in Chicago, Illinois in 1927, Ruth was the only daughter of Thomas Edwin Baggs and Hulda Schuhrke Baggs and sister to Ellis Stephen Baggs of Decatur, Alabama and Charles Chaplin Baggs of Fort Collins, Colorado.

Her family moved south after her birth and Ruth grew up in Jonesboro, Georgia and Martin, South Carolina. She spent her childhood and early teen years with her family in the pine forests and fields of the rural south and enjoyed the experience of living in these small towns. One of her fondest memories was riding the train with her father from Jonesboro to Atlanta in order to conduct business. Ruth graduated from Allendale High School and attended Georgia State College for Women in Milledgeville, Georgia. By her college years, her family moved to Savannah, Georgia where she met Bob and thus began a courtship and marriage that lasted for seventy years. In the lovely backdrop of Savannah's pretty squares, Forsyth Park, and beautiful tree-lined streets, they enjoyed being with friends and family. Here, they enjoyed picnics, swimming in the creeks near Thunderbolt and spending time at Tybee, one of Ruth's greatest pleasures. They eloped in 1948 and then began a family, raising three girls in a home full of noisy laughter, music, one beloved cat at all times, while always acknowledging the Lord's blessings every day. Leading by example, Ruth kept vigil with her Lord Jesus Christ, demonstrating a love and reliance on His guidance in the big and small decisions of life, sharing her faith in countless ways with her husband, daughters, grandchildren, students and friends. Ruth and Bob recently celebrated their seventieth wedding anniversary in September of 2018.

Ruth graduated from the College of Charleston with a degree in early childhood education and taught school in Savannah, Georgia and in Charleston County for twenty three years. With great affection for her little charges, she enjoyed their natural enthusiasm for learning and fostered their curiosity in various subjects.

Among many varied interests, Ruth loved reading, particularly her Post and Courier, newspapers from other cities and towns, historical books, old maps and biographies. Her love of travel was contagious and she loved nothing better than throwing her clothes into a suitcase and taking off on an adventure. At home, she and Bob enjoyed big band music of the '40's on their record player over the course of their marriage. Ruth loved a good conversation and she and Bob shared an ongoing, witty discourse that lasted over the decades sharing thoughts, plans and ideas, while always being each other's best listener. One of Ruth's greatest pastimes was renting a ramshackle house (the worse, the better) at Edisto Beach with Bob, their girls, her brothers and their families. She loved spending days on the beach, eating boiled shrimp and talking long into the night on a beach-facing screened-in porch! Finally, Ruth was an observer of nature and never failed to mention God's love, perfect design and care of all animals, large or small, and the surrounding landscape.

A member of First Families of South Carolina, Ruth was a descendent of Paul Grimball. She was a member of First Baptist Church of Charleston for over sixty years and served her church in many capacities. Serving as a Sunday school teacher to the seven-year old class, she also participated in the Women's Missionary Union, served as a leader in GA's and was a faithful member of the Ann Judson Sunday School Class and later, the Joy Club.

She is survived by her husband, Robert Hutchings Guy; her three daughters: Georgia Guy Hicks, Carolyn Guy Ray (David), and Nancy Guy Union (Christopher); her four grandchildren: Ellen Union, Laura Union Eisenhauer (Brett), Jordan Ray (Margie) and Alston Ray, all of Charleston; sisters-in-law: Jeflyn Ford Baggs and Barbara Nelson Baggs; numerous nephews, nieces, cousins and finally, her cat, Big Boy, who remained by her side and (in her lap when possible) until her final day.

She was predeceased by her two brothers: Stephen Ellis Baggs and Charles Chaplin Baggs; and her son-in-law, William Stroud Hicks, Jr.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Save Crab Bank at www.sccoastalbirds.org or Keeper of the Wild at www.keeperofthewild.org.