Ruth Lopez

Ruth B. Lopez (née Fryer), 90, of Covington, TN, died peacefully on August 11, 2018 in Templeton, California, where she had enjoyed warm sunshine and gentle care since 2014 at the home of her son and daughter-in-law, Anthony and Kellie Lopez. Visitation (10 am-12 pm) and funeral services (12 noon) will be held on Saturday, August 25th at the Covington Funeral Home located at 3499 Highway 51 South, Covington, TN 38019.  Ruth will be laid to rest immediately following at Magnolia Gardens Cemetery (adjacent to the funeral home) beside her much-loved husband, Antonio. The family would be honored by your presence for refreshments and reminiscences at 2 pm, at the Oak Grove Baptist Church Hall following interment. Ruth was born on February 8th, 1928 in Covington, the fifth of ten children to Irene and Roy T. Fryer. She deferred high school graduation to help raise her younger siblings, ultimately graduating from Byars-Hall High School in 1949. She subsequently studied in nursing programs at Memphis Baptist Hospital and the University of Memphis. She then went on to become a registered nurse and 1st Lt. in the United States Air Force serving at Sampson Air Force Base in New York. She was transferred to Laughlin AFB in Del Rio, Texas, where she met the love of her life, 2nd Lt. Antonio Lopez. Ruth and Antonio (Tony) Lopez were married in Del Rio, Texas, on June 15, 1957. Ruth was devoted to her husband and her four beloved children. She sacrificed much to care for them during her husband’s various assignments both abroad and in the United States. She later supported his political endeavors in Washington D.C. and elsewhere as a high ranking official in the George H. W. Bush administration. Meanwhile, Ruth was a selfless and devoted mother to her children as well as a generous volunteer and contributor to numerous civic, religious, environmental and other philanthropic causes. Ruth was also an avid gardener and took great interest in the environment. She was especially delighted by rocks, shells, birds and blooms. Ruth was a woman of faith and a lifetime member of the Oak Grove Baptist Church which served as a comforting home base for her as a child and during the 27 years she lived on or near the family farm after she and Tony retired to Covington in 1982.  Ruth is predeceased by her husband of 52 years, Colonel Antonio Lopez, who died in 2010; a brother who died in infancy and two other brothers, Harold Fryer and Talmadge Fryer. She is survived by a daughter, Linda A. Carney (Matthew) of Natural Bridge, New York, and sons, Richard T. Lopez (Elizabeth) of Syracuse, New York, Michael L. Lopez (Sandra) of Laytonsville, Maryland and Anthony Lopez (Kellie) of Templeton, California. She is also survived by brothers Charles Fryer, Lanier Fryer, Gerald Fryer and Marvis (Angie) Fryer; sisters Mary Ann Harwell and Virginia Sue (George) Erickson; twelve grandchildren; one great granddaughter; and many nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers please make donations to the Oak Grove Baptist Church, 4048 Highway 59 West, Covington TN, 38019 or to the Audubon Society online or at National Audubon Society, 225 Varick St. New York, NY 10014. We will be honoring and celebrating the life of Ruth B. Lopez on Saturday, August 25th in Covington, TN.  The schedule of activities are listed below: VISITATION: 10:00 am – 12:00 pm Covington Funeral Home 3499 Highway 51 South Covington, TN 38019   FUNERAL SERVICES: 12:00 pm Covington Funeral Home 3499 Highway 51 South Covington, TN 38019   “CELEBRATION OF LIFE”: 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm The family would be honored by your presence for refreshments and reminiscences after the services. Oak Grove Baptist Church Hall 4048 Highway 59 West, Covington TN, 38019   In order to help with our planning for the various events celebrating Ruth Lopez’s life, please RSVP by responding to the following link:  https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc7Vz2CtafhrMSlkuqImwiafRJrqBbFTSd7LUrDhHnGI7ivFw/viewform?c=0&w=1&usp=mail_form_link