Ruth Delores Taunton's Obituary
Ruth Delores Jackson Brotherson Taunton, 94, of Lakeland, passed away on Thursday, March 2, 2023, at Lakeland Hospice House. She was born on February 26, 1929 in Miami, FL, to Lucian Purdom Jackson and Marvell Alma (Harris) Jackson. In high school, she was a majorette for the Greater Miami Boys Drum and Bugle Corps, where she met drummer Thomas Earl “Tom” Taunton. On February 2, 1951, Ruth and Tom were married in Miami. Ruth and Tom had one son and two daughters in Miami, and in 1967 the family moved to Sarasota, FL. Ruth and Tom moved again with their youngest daughter in 1975 to Lakeland, where Ruth served on the Women’s Auxiliary at Lakeland Regional Medical Center. In 1979, Ruth obtained her real estate license and had a successful career as a Realtor-Associate until retiring in 1999. She was a longtime member of Lakeside Baptist Church, and enjoyed taking Caribbean cruises with her Sunday School friends. For the past 5 years, she lived at Azalea Park Senior Living, and loved the staff and her fellow residents there.
Ruth was preceded in death by her parents, her beloved step-father Colin C. Brotherson, sister Betty Jean Brotherson, and her husband of 44 years, Tom Taunton. Ruth is survived by her children, George Taunton of North Port, FL, Lynda (Jack) May of Bradenton, FL, and Michelle Taunton of Lakeland; four grandchildren, Ashley May Wilcox of Winston-Salem, NC, Charles Bradley of Lakewood Ranch, FL, Mary Beth Taunton of Denver, CO, and Katie Taunton of Wesley Chapel, FL; two sisters, Colline Simpson and Nancy Hanna, both of Lakeland; and a nephew, Tim Simpson of Lakeland. A reception to celebrate Ruth’s life will be held on Saturday, April 1, 2023, at 1:00pm at Gentry-Morrison Funeral Home South. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Good Shepherd Hospice.
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