Ruth Hinkle

Ruth R. Woolfolk Hinkle was born the eleventh of twelve children to the late Alma Taylor Woolfolk and John Woolfolk, on October 7, 1929, in Brownsboro, Kentucky. Ruth was the last surviving member of the twelve Woolfolk children.She peacefully departed this life November 2, 2025 at her home in Pewee Valley, Kentucky. Ruth joined Brownsboro Baptist Church at an early age.In 1946, she married Shirley Hinkle and they had seven children, five boys and two girls. During their marriage she joined Kenwood Baptist Church and served several positions such as acknowledgement writing and writing church paper, which she enjoyed. Later she returned to Brownsboro Baptist Church. Ruth enjoyed reading, classical music, travel and crocheting. She has crocheted many blankets and made plastic blankets from bags for the homeless to keep them dry. When it came to travel, they were ready to go on a moment's notice. Cruises, Plane trips, drove the Al-Can, took the train from New Jersey to New York, visited the Empire State building,Hawaii, Hershey, Pennsylvania and Omaha, Nebraska. She even drove the highway in Anchorage, Alaska in January (Shirley did insist she stop by Darlene's work and let her drive home.) Ruth retired from Brown & Williamson Tobacco Company after 21 years. She worked in the factory during a time when women were just beginning to enter Brown & Williamson work. Her husband, Shirley Hinkle preceded her in death as well as three sons, Joseph Scott, Samuel Hinkle, and Raymond Hinkle and one grandson Eron Hinkle.

Ruth is survived by her four children, Shirley Edward (Dona), Angela Roberts (Terry), Darlene Elzy (Wayne) and Rodney Hinkle (Cheryl); grandchildren, Michael (Felicia), Brian (Jenny), Tamika (David), Jacoby (Shanna ), Desiree, Anetra (Byron), Terry, Marques, Jeremy (Cecilia), Schuronda, Jacqueline (Denzel), and Martasha; great-grandchildren, Antone,Tyler, Rayshawn, Isabella (Alex),Leticiya, Arianna, Alia,Mya, Jayden, Jailee, Jordan, Jaylen, Jasiah, Bryce, Lamont, Makayla, Sophia, Alicia, Faith, Natalie,and Corinne; great-great Grandchildre, Anaya (Leticiya), Kobe, Kylie (Antone) and Kameron, Kalima (Martasha); and a host of relatives and friends.

Visitation will be from 4pm to 8pm on Tuesday, November 11, 2025 at Newcomer Cremations, Funerals and Receptions, East Louisville Chapel, 235 Juneau Drive, Louisville, Kentucky 40243 and also from 10am to 11am on Wednesday, November 12th at Brownsboro Baptist Church 7435 Brownsboro Alt Route, Crestwood, KY 40014. A celebration of Ruth's life will be there at 11am followed by burial in Louisville Memorial Gardens East, 11601 Ballardsville Road, Louisville, Kentucky.

The Repass will be at the Forest family Life Center at the First Baptist Church of Anchorage, 11500 LaGrange Rd Louisville, Ky 40223 after the burial.

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