By Staff
God in his divine wisdom called our wife and mother to her eternal reward. A service of praise and thanksgiving for her life was held in her honor on Sunday, February 28, 2010 at the First Christian Church, Disciples of Christ in Plymouth, North Carolina.
A native of Henderson, North Carolina, she was the only child of the late Ruth White and Edgar Goodrich Thomas and the only grandchild of the late Mrs. E.H. Thomas. She is survived by her husband Jack Hayes Faucette, her daughter Timothy Pharr Rochelle of Hobucken, North Carolina, and her three sons, Dr. Scott Yorke Pharr III and his wife Cheryl of Williamsburg, Virginia; David Pharr and his wife Michelle of Kill Devil Hills; and Jonathan Pharr and his wife Maria of New Bern, North Carolina. Ruth also had two step-daughters, Beth Huber of New Orleans, Louisiana and Sallie Ryder of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. She also had eleven grandchildren and six great grandchildren. One grandson, Raymond Brady Thomason III of Lumberton, N.C. predeceased her in death.
Ruth received degrees in education from Peace College, Salem College, and East Carolina University. She was a member of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society and a State Champion in archery her senior year at Salem College. In 1941 she married the late Reverend Dr. Scott Yorke Pharr, Jr. of Tar Heel, North Carolina. He and Ruth pastored Presbyterian churches in Kinston and Kill Devils Hills, North Carolina; Virginia Beach, Virginia; and finally in Swan Quarter and Plymouth, North Carolina.
While at Davidson College, Ruth and Yorke became good friends with Jack and Betty Faucette. After graduation, the two couples continued their friendship. Yorke Pharr died in March 1991 and Betty Faucette died three months later. Jack and Ruth were married in November 1993.
She taught school in Tar Heel, Kannapolis, and Mooresville, North Carolina in addition to teaching in Richmond and Virginia Beach, Virginia. She retired from the Washington County school system after teaching twenty-eight years in Plymouth, North Carolina. She was president for two terms of the Washington County North Carolina Education Association and was the first president of the organization during integration.
She was active in many civic organizations including: The Daughters of the American Revolution, the Women’s Club, Art Council, Roanoke Buddies, Hospital Auxiliary, Washington County Food Pantry, SHARE, and the Plymouth Garden Club. She served as president of the Plymouth Garden Club for eight years.
A private interment services will be held at a later date with her ashes being buried with each of her husbands. The family request in lieu of flowers that donations in her name be made to: Beth Car Presbyterian Church Building Fund in Tar Heel, North Carolina 28392.
Online condolences at www.wilkersonfuneralhome.com
Paid Obituary