RUTH HELEN STEWARD SLATEN, age 91, of Charleston, died Monday, May 10, 2021, at the Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston.

Ruth was born December 11, 1929, at Loundes, MO, to the late Lon Steward and Bertha Pink Hardy Steward, and she was raised in the country on a farm near Loundes.  Ruth attended a one room grade school in Loundes and graduated from Charleston High in 1947.  After high school graduation, Ruth went on to graduate from Southeast Missouri State University at Cape Girardeau with a degree in education and library science in 1975.   Ruth then taught a number of years in the East Prairie R-2 School District as a classroom teacher and then as librarian for both the elementary and high school.

A long-time member of the First Baptist Church of Charleston, she taught Sunday school for over 68 years, worked in Vacation Bible School, was a member of the Church choir and active in W.M.U.

On November 2, 1948, she married Eugene Gordon "Gene" Slaten, who survives of the home.

Also surviving are her children, Gordon (Terry) Slaten of Charleston; Stephen (Martha) Slaten of Cape Girardeau and Mary Susan (Rudy) Ponder of Sikeston; her daughter-in-law, Robin Slaten of Charleston; 10 grandchildren and 22 great grandchildren.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her son, John C. "Johnny" Slaten; and her brothers, Walter Steward, Fred Steward, Clay Steward, Paul Steward and Marvin Steward and her sisters, Mildred Bradsher Anthony, Artie Hefner and infant sister, Faye Steward.

The family will receive friends from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Thursday, May 13, 2021, at the First Baptist Church in Charleston.  Funeral services will be conducted at 10:30 a.m., Friday, May 14, 2021, at the church, with Rev. Gerald Collier of Jackson, officiating.

Interment will follow in the I.O.O.F. Cemetery near Charleston under the direction of McMikle Funeral Home of Charleston.

Pallbearers will be her grandsons and grandsons in law, Bill Ponder, Andy Ponder, Bobby Slaten, Jacob Shreve, Josh Shaw and Berin Waller.

The family requests memorials be made to: World Hunger Program, c/o First Baptist Church, P.O. Box 442, Charleston, MO 63834