Ruth Townes Paty, age 80, died at her home in Greenwood on Saturday, March 26, 2016. She Paty was a fourth generation land owner in Tallahatchie County. Mrs. Paty was born December 2, 1935 in Greenwood, Mississippi to Ruth and James A. Townes of Minter City.
Mrs. Paty was a lifelong Episcopalian. She attended Greenwood High School and graduated from St. Catherine's School in Richmond, VA in 1954. She then graduated from Hollins College in Roanoke, VA in 1958. An avid reader, Mrs. Paty was active in the children's reading programs at the Church of the Nativity. She greatly enjoyed playing bridge and the many friendships it brought over the past 40 years.
She is preceded in death by her parents and her brother, James A. Townes, as well as by two husbands: William R. Paty and John B. Frye. She is survived by her three children Mary Hughes Frye of Lufkin, TX, Tish (Israel) Rosales of Mill Valley, CA, Jay (Ramona) Frye of The Woodlands, TX, and her niece Caroline (Aubrey) Falls of Minter City. Mrs. Paty is also survived by six beautiful grandchildren.
Pallbearers are Don Brock, Chris Cascio, Aubrey Falls, Garner Falls, Will Knight, and McLeod Meek. Honorary pallbearers are Henry Flautt, William Falls, Ed Hunter Steele, Alton Turnipseed, Donnie Brock, and Terry Grissom.
Graveside funeral services will be held 2:00pm, Tuesday, March 29, 2016, at the Palo Alto family cemetery in Minter City. A reception will follow. The Reverend Peter Gray, Episcopal Church of the Nativity will officiate. Memorials may be made to the Episcopal Church of the Nativity, the Leflore County Humane Society or to the Museum of the Mississippi Delta. Wilson and Knight Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.