Ruthie Belle (Cox) Morgan, 98, of Hemphill, WV, departed January 8, 2026. We were blessed with her presence for every year of her life. The echoes of her character and strength and memories of her motherhood will be treasured always by all that knew her.

A faithful and loving friend, daughter, mother & grandmother, Ruth was born April 7, 1927, at the old Miners Hospital in Welch, WV and was a lifelong resident of Hemphill, WV. When offered the opportunity to relocate to another area, her reply was, "I was born and raised in Welch and I'm going to die in Welch". Though she held positions at several local businesses throughout her life, her primary occupation was devoted mother and homemaker for her three children, her invalid mother Bertie and her extended family.

The daughter of Daniel Lewis Cox of Summers County, WV and Bertha L. Bromfield of Roanoke, VA, Ruth traced her Cox family lineage back to William Cox of Virginia in 1720. She was preceded in death by her husband, Clarence Morgan of Mohegan, WV, her brothers, Floyd Monroe Cox of Worth, WV and Robert E. Lee Cox of Princeton, WV. She is survived by two daughters by Clarence Morgan, Janet Morgan of Roanoke, VA and Kathy (Morgan) Walker of Suffolk, VA ( husband, Mark and children Jason Matthew Morgan of Hampton, VA and Michael Andrew Walker of Suffolk, VA), a son Edward James of Clarksburg, MD, (wife Susan and daughter Emily Susan Morgan of Morgantown, WV) by James Edward Van Sutphen of Meadows of Dan, VA, deceased.

Ruth was surrounded by a blended family of half-sisters and half-brothers, Letha Lucinda (Cox) Benton, Preston Mathis Cox, Mary Ellen Cox, Ethel (Cox) Flannigan, Charlie Cox and Sarah (Cox) Hiatt from her father's first wife, Christina Collins and a half-sister (Sarah Osborne) from her mother's first marriage to James Collier. She is survived by several favored nieces and nephews, Wayne Cox (deceased) of Minnesota, Brenda (Cox) Hale of Welch, WV and Bobby and Sandra Cox of Princeton, WV. Also beloved and in her debt for the care they gave her are Ronald, Raymond, Charles, Frank, Lettie Mae, Jean and Edward Osborne, the children of Sarah and Emory Osborne.

Ruth spent the last years of her life under the loving care of Ola Gay Mullins (deceased) of Hemphill. They grew up together and shared many of the same friends and memories. May God bless Ola Gay for the spiritual guidance that led her to be there when Ruth needed her most.

Ruth, as a single mother, endured much personal deprivation in order to provide for her son. She would walk from the head of Orkney Hollow to Welch to work in retail positions for the G. C. Murphy Co. She did forsake her own personal needs to allow him the necessities of a child. While poor most of her life, she was rich in spirit. Her sacrifices were not taken for granted and will never be forgotten.