Ruth Allion Kelley, 101, of Kingston, passed away on May 12 at The Lantern at Morning Pointe of Lenoir City. She had been a resident of Kingston for 60 years. Born Ruth Lorraine Allion, she was raised in Bryan, Ohio, where she graduated from Bryan High School in 1939. She met and married George Kelley, the love of her life, when she was working as a secretary in Pasadena, California. They settled in Oak Ridge in 1947 and moved to Kingston in 1953.
Ruth was a talented pianist and artist, and she enjoyed writing poetry. She also loved tennis and continued to play even into her 80s. She was an avid animal lover and did volunteer work with several charitable organizations.
Ruth was married for forty-six years before her husband passed away in 1993. Together, they raised six children, all of whom graduated from Roane County High School.
In addition to her husband, Ruth was preceded in death by her son Steve, who passed away in 2018. She is survived by her other five children: son David and his wife Carla of Roswell, GA; daughters Becky Brown and husband Bill of Apopka, FL, Janet Kelley and husband Joe Driggers of Kingston, Jean West and husband Larry of Kingston, and Laura Ousley and husband Ted of Maryville; daughters-in-law Renee Kelley of Oak Ridge and Cathy Kelley of Fayetteville, GA; 11 grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren, and numerous beloved nieces and nephews.

The family will hold a private memorial at a later date. In memory of Ruth, the family requests donations to Second Harvest Food Bank of East Tennessee (HERE); or Alzheimer’s Tennessee, 5801 Kingston Pike, Knoxville 37919 (HERE).