FAYETTEVILLE — Ruth Blair Greenwood,

96, died on October 16, 2021, at Butterf ield Trail Village in Fayetteville, Arkansas. A Fayetteville resident since 1983, she was born in Detroit, Michigan, on March 10, 1925, the daughter and fourth child of Ivan Sidney and Florence Baker Blair.

Ruth’s father and family built a cabin on an island in McGregor Bay in Northern Ontario, a place of relaxation and recreation for three generations. It is Ruth’s beloved “Bay”.

An accomplished piano player, music was always an important part of her life. Ruth attended Wayne State and Madonna College in the Detroit area in the 1940s and 1950s. In 1967, she received a Bachelor of Science in Education degree at Drake University, Des Moines, Iowa. She received a Master’s in Education degree at Drake in 1978. Her teaching experience included six years in the elementary classroom and ten years as resource teacher in the Urbandale Schools, Urbandale, Iowa. Her love of learning was lifelong, including many Elderhostel trips. She was calm, patient, and flexible – a loving and supportive mother and wife. Ruth lived her faith in her daily life and in church, sharing her time, talents, and treasure.

Survivors include her son, Patrick (Sandra) Greenwood of Owatonna, Minnesota; daughter, Ann Greenwood of Bentonville, Arkansas; daughter, Mary (Vasant) Bhardwaj of Richland, Washington; and son, Bruce ( Deon) Greenwood of Gresham, Oregon; fourteen grandchildren; and nineteen great- grandchildren. Ruth was the last of her generation in our family. She was preceded in death by her parents, siblings, and husband of almost seventy years, Perry Lloyd Greenwood.

A memorial service will be held, online, at a time to be announced.

The family requests memorials be made to Butterfield Trail Village or the Salvation Army, Fayetteville, Arkansas.

Cremation arrangements are by Nelson-Berna Funeral Home in Fayetteville.

To leave an online tribute please visit: www.bernafuneralhomes.com .