Ruth Anne Welch Bennett was born in Boardman, Florida on May 12, 1945. She passed away at the age of 81 on May 25, 2026 after her 2-year battle with lymphoma. Her parents were James David Welch, Sr. and Ruth Webb Welch which raised her in Gilchrist County.

Ruth Anne graduated from Bell High School in 1963 and was Homecoming Queen in 1961. After high school, she worked for the Teacher’s Retirement System in Tallahassee for one & a half years. Then she married Charles and became a mother to Chari. When Chari started school, Ruth Anne became a Teacher’s Aide for the Taylor County School Board. In 1985, she married her loving & devoted husband Benjamin. In Sept 1987, they moved to Smyrna, Georgia to become house parents at Calvary Children’s Home which grew and moved to Powder Springs. Ben & Ruth Anne raised many children through their 15 years of love & devotion. They taught them how to love the Lord and each other wholeheartedly. Most of these children stay in contact with Aunt “Rudie” and Uncle Ben.

In 2001, their world changed, which brought them back to Gilchrist County. Always believing in God and trusting Him to take care of them, she began working at Nature Coast Insurance for a year. Then she took a clerk job with Gilchrist County Tax Collector Office until she retired. Ruth Anne was a devout Christian & member of Trenton First Baptist Church. She loved serving the Lord and her love for the Lord was always present.

Ruth Anne is survived by her husband, Ben Bennett; her daughter, Chari (John) Holder, stepdaughter, Stacie (Tim) Graves; grandchildren: Brittani (Donnie) Mathis, Amber (Will) Howell, Garrett Graves, Gracie Graves; great grands: Emma Howell, Lane Mathis, Liam Howell, Grayson Howell. She is preceded in death by her parents, James & Ruth Welch; her brothers & sisters-in-law: David & Vivian Welch, Billy Welch, Wimpy & Janice Welch.

Services will be held at Trenton First Baptist on Wednesday, May 27, 2026 at 10am with burial at Bethel Cemetery. Fellowship and lunch will follow at Trenton First Baptist.

In Lieu of flowers, please make donations to Calvary Children’s Home in Powder Springs GA or Trenton First Baptist Building Fund.