Mary "Ruth" Whaley Auten

Mary Ruth Whaley Auten, 91, of Madison, Alabama passed away peacefully at home on July 14, 2021.  Born January 4, 1930 in Sylacauga, Alabama, she was the third of six children to Lexi Coshatt Whaley and R.C. Whaley.  She graduated from B.B. Comer high school and then worked at a local café where the love of her life, Freeman, came in with his Army buddy for lunch.  It was love at first sight for them both and they married in 1952 after he was discharged from the Army. They moved to Huntsville in 1960 when Freeman got a job at Brown Engineering, then to Madison in 1991.  Ruth was the first woman hired at the Parker Hannifin manufacturing as an inspector and retired from there.  They traveled across the United States and Europe, a highlight seeing the Eifel Tower in Paris.  They celebrated 66 years of fun and happy marriage in 2018.  She had an open door to their home for family and friends for holidays and special occasions or just a drop-in visit.  She made many friends who she truly loved as family.  She had a kind heart and will be missed by her loving family.

Ruth is preceded in death by her husband Freeman, sisters Lois Fallon and Judy Bentley, brothers L.C. Whaley and Quinton Whaley.  She is survived by daughters Becky Ruhlman (Larry) - Madison, Mary Auten - Huntsville, Bonnie Auten - Madison, grandchildren Christine Yeske (Jay), David Ruhlman (Breanna), Lauren Evallen (Nikki), two great-grandsons, brother Johnny Whaley - Sylacauga, and many nieces and nephews.

A service will be held at Legacy Chapel Funeral Home in Madison on Tuesday, July 20^th at 2:00 with no visitation.  Pastor Robby Boyd of Sherwood Baptist Church will officiate.

The family especially thanks Kindred Hospice for their compassionate care and kind words of encouragement.    

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations to her church, Sherwood Baptist Church, 660 Madison Pike, Huntsville, AL 35808.