RUTH ONEALIA R. DOOLITTLE

CAYCE — Ruth Onealia Rawls Doolittle, age 97, of Cayce entered her eternal home on Sunday morning, Oct. 25, 2009 at Providence Hospital with her children by her bedside.

She was the widow of Warren Heyward Doolittle who died in 1977. She was a native of Newberry County born on Oct. 16, 1912 and was the last surviving child of the late Ella Elizabeth Lever Rawls and Jacob Boinert Rawls. She was also predeceased by brothers, Milton and Thurman (infants), Alvin, Tommie, McDonald, Lester, Herman and sisters, Agnes (infant), Mary and son-in-law, Claude Calloway.

She was an educational encourager having taught children’s Sunday School for many years and tutored neighborhood children. She was well-known for artistic abilities including drawing, poetry, sewing and various needle works. She was an avid reader, gardner and nature lover who was very devoted to her red birds.

She made a lasting impression of love to all who came in contact with her, and was a gentle lady who lived by the mottos, “If you can’t say something good about someone, don’t say anything,” and “This too, shall pass.”

Mrs. Doolittle is survived by a son, Yancy Ray Doolitte of Chapin; daughters, Nancy Kay Doolittle of Columbia and Shelva Doolittle Calloway of Asheville, N.C.; grandchildren, Timothy Glenn (Beth) Calloway, Todd Douglas (Jennifer) Calloway, Terrell Kent (Jamie) Calloway, Tonya Suzette (Zeb Penland) Calloway; great-grandchildren, Ashley Nicole Calloway, Brittney Ruth Oliveira, Jacob Austin Calloway, Jackson Claude Calloway, and Grace Maria Penland all of Asheville, N.C.; a special niece and nephew, Judy Rawls Amick and her husband, John of Pomaria.

Funeral services will be held at noon on Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2009 at McSwain-Evans Funeral Home Chapel, Newberry, by the Rev. Doug Benton. Burial will follow in Southland Memorial Gardens in West Columbia at 1:45 p.m. The family will receive friends one hour before the service at the funeral home.

Granting her wishes, in lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Animal Rescue, c/o Dr. Shawn Verbrick, 4039 Trenholm Road, Columbia, S.C. 29206.

McSwain-Evans Funeral Home is entrusted with the arrangements. A memorial message may be sent to the family at www.mcswainevans.com.