Obituary of Ruth Ann Lightner

Ruth Ann Lightner passed away peacefully on February 23, 2023 in Ocala, Florida.  She was 86.

The middle child of seven, she was born January 20, 1937 and raised in Sylva, North Carolina. After graduating from high school, she followed her older sister to Northern, Virginia where she met the love of her life and husband of 47 years, Calvin. Ruth raised her children and lived in the DC metro area for a number of years before moving first to Slidell, LA and then to Ocala in 1986, where she and Calvin enjoyed the tranquility and warm weather there.

A loving and loyal wife, mother, grandmother, aunt and friend, Ruth will be truly missed by all whose lives she touched.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Calvin, her parents, General Jackson and Eva Cordelia Sutton, three sisters, Thelma Roberts, Clara Sutton Stern, Alva Jean Bertoni and one brother, Clifton Sutton.  Ruth is survived by her daughter Susan (Antonino) Pino and son Kenneth (Cheri) Lightner, her two brothers James (Linda) Sutton and Andy Sutton and grandchildren Marie Pino, John (Clara) Pino, Jeremy Lightner and Ben Lightner and eleven nieces and nephews (Cheryl, Vicki, Donna, Tony, Tammy, Sherry, Josh, Joe, Sharon, Vicky and Jill).

A celebration of life service will be held at 11am on Saturday, March 11^th at Hiers-Baxley Funeral Services on Silver Springs Boulevard in Ocala, Florida. Visitation for family and friends will directly precede the service at 10am. She will be laid to rest at Highland Memorial Park beside her Husband, Calvin.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Ruth’s memory may be made to Hospice of Marion County or Happy Tails Pet Therapy, Inc.