Vivian (Ward) Ruden

Mrs. Vivian Ward Ruden, 94, resident of Jamestown, died July 30, 2021 at Guilford House in Greensboro.

She was born March 12, 1927 in Randolph County, a daughter to Carl H. and Retta Frazier Ward.  Vivian was a resident of this area all her life and a former member of Holly Hill Wesleyan Church.  There she served as church organist forty-two years and also taught music in the public school system thirty-five years.  She also volunteered for Mobile Meals of High Point, worked at Belk’s in cosmetics for many years, and was the first female public school bus driver in North Carolina.  She was proud of that and spoke often about learning to drive on a tractor when she was younger.  In addition, Vivian was an avid gardener and loved her pink roses.  Especially though, her greatest loves were her children and her music.

Surviving is her husband, Bob Ruden of Jamestown; a daughter, Stephanie Blake (Anne) of Climax; a son, Kevin Blake (Angela) of Fayetteville; a stepson, David Ruden (Cindy) of High Point; a sister, Joyce Segars of Thomasville; a grandson, Joshua Blake; a step-grandchildren, Nicholas Ruden; one great granddaughter, Ava Martin; and a very special niece, Angela Loving.  She was preceded in death by two brothers, Clifford Ward and Bruce Ward; a sister, Jewell Hoover; and a step-grandchild, Jerry Martin.

Funeral services will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Monday, August 2, in the chapel of the Cumby Family Funeral Service in High Point.  Interment will follow the service at the Hebrew Cemetery in High Point.  Visitation will be held from 6:00-7:30 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home.  Memorials may be directed to Mobile Meals of High Point at P.O. Box 6666 High Point, NC, 27262.  Special appreciation goes to the doctors, nurses and staff of Guilford House who were so loving and good to our mother.

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