Audley Ruth Spurlin Breithaupt, known by all as Ruth, passed away Sept. 22, 2019, at Hospice Ministries in Ridgeland.

Services will be in Vicksburg Friday, Sept. 27, 2019, with visitation at Glenwood Funeral Home beginning at 9 a.m. followed by a funeral Mass at St. Michael Catholic Church on Fisher Ferry Road at 11, with burial at Cedar Hill Cemetery.

Ruth was born in Techuacana, Texas, and moved to Corpus Christi, Texas, during her high school years.

While living in Corpus Christi, Texas, she met and fell in love with Ernest T. Breithaupt, who was stationed there with the Navy. Upon their marriage and Ernie’s release from the service in 1945, they moved to Lorman.

During their 50-year marriage, they became the owners and operators of the Old Country Store, formerly Cohn Brothers, and it became a nationally known attraction. Ruth and Ernie worked side by side every day with love and enjoyment of their children, grandchildren and successes together.

Ruth was predeceased by her husband, Ernest T. Breithaupt; her mother, Katie Jane Lindsey Ingram and her stepfather, Chester A. Ingram of Corpus Christi, Texas; her sisters, Gertrude S. McKinney of Corpus Christi, Texas, Virginia S. Moss of Meridian and Ruby S. Breithaupt of Odessa, Texas; and her brother, Edward R. Spurlin of Corpus Christi, Texas.

She was loved dearly and survived by her children, Ernest Stephen (Steve) Breithaupt and wife Minnie of Gainesville, Ga.; Mona B. Neal of North Las Vegas, Nev.; Kathleen (Kathy) B. Brown and husband Allen of Port Gibson, Charles (Charlie) E. Breithaupt and wife Edith of Petal; Katie B. Martin and husband Jimmy of Vicksburg and Karen B. Harper and husband Cecil of Madison.

She is also survived her brother-in-law, A. J. Breithaupt, and his wife Sadie of Vicksburg and her sister-in-law, Dorothy H. Myracle, of Corpus Christi, Texas.

She leaves 15 grandchildren, Joseph Breithaupt, Jennifer B. Culbertson, Rebecca Neal, Brian Neal, Kevin Neal, Tim Neal, Jessica N. Childs, Laura B. Marshall, Eric Breithaupt, Natalie Breithaupt, Leigh Breithaupt, Jeff Mac Parker, Lindsay P. Townsend, Christopher Harper and Stephanie H. Bass.

She was blessed with numerous great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews and beloved friends.

Pallbearers are grandsons and grandsons-in-law, Eric Breithaupt, Joseph Breithaupt, Chris Harper, James Marshall, Tim Neal, and Brad Townsend.

Honorary pallbearers are grandsons and grandsons-in-law, Neil Bass, Jarod Culbertson, Brian Neal, Kevin Neal and Jeff Mac Parker.

The family would like to convey special thanks to the staff of Hospice Ministries of Ridgeland; to Paula St. Pierre with St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Madison and to Rev. Linda Rickman with Madison United Methodist Church for all of their love, caring and devotion shown our Mom during her final time with us.

Memorial donations may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or to Hospice Ministries of Ridgeland, 450 Towne Center Boulevard, Ridgeland, MS 39157.