Ruth Ellen Darden

Ruth Ellen Darden

Cashiers, NC - Ruth Ellen Darden, 78, of Cashiers died peacefully at the Highlands Cashiers Hospital on Thursday, May 8 from pancreatic cancer. She was born in Connecticut to the late Oliver Champ and Helen Robertson. Ruth moved from Miami to Cashiers in the early 1960's. Here she married Edward Boyle Darden in 1976 and they lived full time in Cashiers.

Ruth was predeceased by her husband, "Bud" Darden in 2010. Ruth is survived by three cousins; Karen Bjorn of Charlottesville, VA; Great Bjorn of Glastonbury, CT; and Leonard Bjorn of Manchester, CT. She is survived by three stepchildren; Carole McKay of Savannah, GA; Ann Darden of Tampa, FL; and Edward Darden of Oak Harbor, WA. Ruth is also survived by many loving friends in her church and community.

Ruth thought of herself as a true mountain woman and embraced her life in Cashiers. She was a champion tennis player, avid reader, and talented gardener. Ruth was an active member of the Holy Trinity Anglican Church in Cashiers. She was passionate about her dogs, Dixie and Mercury.

Services will be held graveside Thursday, May 15, 2014 at 11:00 am at the Norton Cemetery in Cashiers. In lieu of flowers the family is requesting that donations in honor of Ruth be made to the American Bouvier Rescue League, PO Box 689, Cheshire, MA 01225.

Bryant Grant Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Online condolences are available by visiting bryantgrantfuneralhome.com or by email.