Ruth Marie (Helms) Troutman Nelson

Ruth Marie Helms Troutman Nelson, 89, formerly of Concord died at her residence in Gastonia on Tuesday, December 8, 2020.

A graveside service to celebrate Ruth’s life will be held at 2:00 PM Sunday, December 13, at Carolina Memorial Park with Rev. Raymond Johns, Jr. of Catawba Heights Baptist Church, Gastonia, officiating. Her family will visit with friends at the grave after the committal service.

Ruth was born July 4, 1931 in Cabarrus Co., a daughter of the late John V. and Veta Medlin Helms. Ruth was a longtime area resident and charter member of Parkwood Baptist Church. She was a homemaker for her family and loved to cook and was known for her pound cakes. Ruth loved to dance with her husband Maurice at the local senior dances. She enjoyed traveling with her daughter, Judy. Ruth was a loving and devoted wife, mother and grandmother. She will be dearly missed.

In addition to her parents, Ruth was preceded in death by her first husband, James O. Troutman, Sr. and her second husband, Maurice B. Nelson; her eight brothers, Rev. Carl Helms, Rev. Melvin Helms, Rev. Earl Helms, Rev. Lee Helms, Clifford Helms, Robert Helms, Hubert Helms and John Thomas Helms and two sisters, Faye McClellan and Doris Hamrick and her sons, James O. Troutman, Jr. and Jeffrey Dale Troutman.

Those left to cherish her memory are her daughter, Judy Dixon (Bill) of Gastonia, her 9 grandchildren; James O. Troutman III (Tonya), Tina M. Hastings (James), Tammy M. Seda (Dennis), Kimberly L. Conner, Shelby R. Collins (Patrick), Angela Faye Turner (Anthony), Samantha A. Troutman, Jeremy D. Troutman and Heather Troutman, 15 great-grandchildren and 3 great-greatgrandchildren.

Online condolences may be left at www.whitleysfuneralhome.com.