Ruth Elaine (Talley) Shope

Mrs. Ruth Elaine Talley Shope, 96, of Greensboro, went to Heaven Monday, June 23, 2025 at AuthoraCare Collectives’ Beacon Place, with her daughters singing and playing her favorite hymns.  Her last earthly breath was completely peaceful.  In her next heavenly breath, she was transformed and filled with His glory, seeing her Savior Jesus, whom she loved so much, and celebrating being reunited with her loving family and friends who had gone on before her.

A Celebration of Life will be held Friday, June 27, 2025 at George Brothers Funeral Service Chapel.  The service will begin at 10:30 am, with Pastor Robert Keatts officiating.  Burial will follow at Gilmore Memorial Park, with Rev. Bob Talley officiating.

Ruth was born in Guilford County to the late Charles Odas and Martha Frances Barker Talley. She studied art at Women’s College of the University of North Carolina (UNC-G) and later earned a secretarial degree; she worked at Western Electric until her children were born.  She was so thankful she could stay home to raise her children.  She later returned to work in her 60’s, working for MacRae-Joyce Associates, Architects PC (formerly MacRae-Bell Associates) in Greensboro, where she retired after 10 years. 

Ruth was also a faithful member of Friendly Avenue Baptist Church and the 3 C’s Sunday School class.  As much as she was able, she was involved in her Grow Group and various Senior Activities.  She thoroughly enjoyed being with people, and she especially loved worshipping her Lord, singing hymns she remembered from her youth.

Along with her parents, Ruth is preceded in death by her husband, Lawrence “Larry” M. Shope; and her siblings and their spouses, Mary Edith “Edie”, Ola Frances “Frankie or Bonsie”, Maud Virginia, Charles Odas (Joy), Constantine Barker “Cons” (Celia), Martha Lynn, William Bryan “Bill” (Kitty), and Robert Laverne “Bob” (Doris).

She is survived by her three daughters, Martha F. Kubik (Jan); Mary M. Heidi Bierstedt (Bert); Ruth Elisabeth Johnson (Louis “Brud”); grandchildren, Janek Kubik (Maddy), Adam Kubik (Andrea), and Hannah Williams (Shawn); great grandchildren, Scarlett and Finn; and a host of nieces and nephews, and great nieces and nephews, all of whom she adored.

The family will receive friends from 9:30-10:15 am on Friday, June 27, 2025 at the funeral home prior to the service.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to either of the following: The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, 1 Billy Graham Parkway, Charlotte, NC 28201 or at billygraham.org; Samaritan’s Purse, PO Box 3000, Boone, NC 28607 or at www.samaritanspurse.org/our-ministry/donate-online; Friendly Avenue Baptist Church, 4800 W Friendly Ave, Greensboro, NC 27410; or Well-Spring Solutions Memory Care Center, 2701 Henry Street, Greensboro, NC 27405.

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