Vivian Ruth Strickland, 72, of Bloomfield, Missouri went to be with the lord on November 30, 2022, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center.

Ruth was born on November 16,1950 in Bloomfield, Missouri. She lived with her grandparents in Puxico, Missouri and helped out on their peach orchard.

Ruth graduated from Puxico High School in 1968.

She then went on to marry the love of her life Ralph Strickland who was serving the United States Navy. During their time in the military, they welcomed Kristi Strickland Venable and later Carl Strickland. During this time, she was also an active Leader of the Navy Wives Club.

After retiring from the military, she and her family came back to Bloomfield and settled down. She then worked various jobs, but her main focus was her family and community.

Ruth enjoyed spending time with her family, through shopping or having a big family get together. Fourth of Julys were bright, loud, and fun, and Christmas at Granny and Papa’s were merry. Food was her love language, as she would always cook the best food. She knew it made others happy, and a great way to bring people together.

She was very involved with trying to improve her community. By doing this she was the volunteer Head Cook at Bloomfield Area Nutrition Center since it opened and a member of the Bloomfield Chamber of Commerce where she served on the board for several years.

She will truly be missed by so many people. If you ever had any interaction with her, she had a hilarious sense of humor and was wonderful. She was a kind friend, loving wife, tending mother, sweet grandma, and amazing great grandma.

She is preceded in death by her grandparents Samuel Jasper and Esta Ruth Harmon; her mother Faye Baca; and her three sisters.

Ruth is survived by her beloved husband Ralph Strickland of 49 years of marriage; her son Carl Strickland of Bloomfield, Missouri; her daughter Kristi (John) Venable of Bloomfield, Missouri; her brother, Larry Harmon of Dexter, Missouri; her four grandchildren Mollie (Kalab) Thomley of Bloomfield, Missouri, Ryan Strickland of Dudley, Missouri, Abigail Venable of Bloomfield, Missouri, Sean (Katie) Rodgers of Sikeston, Missouri; and two great grandchildren Henry Thomley of Bloomfield, Missouri and Liam Venable of Bloomfield, Missouri.

Visitation will be held at Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter on Monday, December 5, 2022, from 11:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m.

Funeral services will then be conducted in the Mathis Funeral Home Chapel on Monday, December 5, 2022, at 1:00 p.m. Interment will follow in the Missouri State Veterans Cemetery in Bloomfield.

Mathis Funeral home in Dexter is assisting with arrangements.