Ruth Winifred Smith Day died at Bourbon Heights on Tuesday, December 6, 2016. Born on March 15, 1925, in Paris, Kentucky, to the late Jesse and Tishie Caswell Smith, she was a 1943 graduate of Paris High School and had noted in her autobiography that “graduation was touched by sadness as several of the boys in her class had been called into the armed services before their school term was up.” Blanton Collier was one of her teachers who would invite her class for “afternoon tea,” as he termed it, meaning everyone got to stay in after school.
After graduation, Ruth decided she needed to support the War effort and worked at the Willow Run Bomber Factory near Detroit, Michigan and later at Wright Field in Dayton, Ohio. During this time, she managed to attend Cleary Business College in Ypsilanti, Michigan and subsequently finished her course work at Crump Business College in Lexington, Kentucky.
On October 5, 1946, Ruth met her future husband, Charles Marion “C.M.” Day, Jr. at the popular Paris hangout, Spike’s Restaurant; they later married on January 14, 1948, at the Paris First United Methodist Church where she has remained a member. In September 1949 Ruth began her 31 year career with Kentucky State Government in the human services area; her home phone rang most every night for many years from callers who needed financial or other help. She was always most kind and patient with those callers in need even though it was her time at home with her own family. She was commissioned a Kentucky Colonel in 1978, served as secretary for the Paris Salvation Army chapter, was a 15 year member and past president of the Paris Business and Professional Woman’s Club, and was a volunteer for Operation Food Basket and other organizations such as Co-Chairing the PHS Band’s Annual Turkey Dinner. Her proudest community service was serving as a board member for Bourbon Heights for 45 years.
She was blessed with two siblings, the late Juanita Caswell Roe, and A. W. Puckett, Joplin, Missouri. Her daughters, Janice Day Hash (Scott) and Marilyn Day Bannister (David) were likewise blessed. Her grandchildren, Christina and Eric Hash (Mollie) and Nancy Bannister Jenkins (Mitch) and Mark Bannister (Jennifer) dearly loved their “Mommy Day” as she was truly a “kid” herself. Nothing made Ruth happier than to have a carload of kids going somewhere. Even her great-grandchildren, Christopher and Holly Jenkins, and Audrey Bannister have gotten to enjoy her love and playful moments. However, her most recent great-grandson, Hudson Hash, who just turned one-year old, was able to give her such joyful moments this past year at a time in her life where her spirits needed uplifting. Margaret Mason was also a very special friend to her.
Funeral services will be 11:00 a.m. Friday, December 9, at Hinton-Turner Funeral Home by Rev. Gary Graves with burial in Paris Cemetery. Casket bearers will be Mark Bannister, Eric Hash, Scott Hash, Larry Roe, Jim Toadvine, and George Wilder. Honorary bearers will be Lynwood Roe, Edwin Caswell, Robert Caswell, E.J. Caswell, Benton Day, Preston Day, Larry Day, John King, Bourbon Heights staff, and Dr. Roberta Allison and staff. Visitation will be 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to Bourbon Heights Activity Fund or Paris First United Methodist Church.
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