Ruben Leon Church

Mr. Ruben Leon Church, 78, retired employee of Monsanto and resident of Sharon Circle, died Sunday, September 18, 2005. Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m., Wednesday at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home with Bro. Steve Kelley officiating. Burial will be in Rose Hill Cemetery with military honors provided by Lawrenceburg VFW Honor Guard. The family will visit with friends Tuesday from 4- 8 p.m. at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to Alzheimers Association of Middle Tennessee, 4205 Hillsboro Pike, Suite 216, Nashville, TN, 37215. Notes of sympathy may be sent to the family at www.oakesandnichols.com. The Maury County native was the son of the late Robert Taylor Church and Eloise Holt Church. He served in the United States Army, stationed in Germany, during World War II. He was employed by Monsanto for 39 é years, retiring in 1986. Mr. Church was an avid fisherman and hunter. He attended St. Luke United Methodist Church. Survivors include his wife of 47 years, Evelyn Walker Church of Columbia; one son, Terry Leon (Cheryl) Church of Columbia; one daughter, Wanda (Jack) Butler of Columbia; two sisters, Thelma Winchester of Columbia, Betty Hogan of Nashville; one brother, Carl (Norene) Church of Spring Hill; three grandchildren, Michelle (Chris) Leonard, Jan (Phil) Sutherland both of Columbia, Reed Butler of Spring Hill; six great-grandchildren, Chelsea Leonard, Ashley Leonard, Jonathan Leonard, Rachel Sutherland, Lane Sutherland, Luke Sutherland; four sisters-in-law, Mattie Church, Dot Church, Ann Church, Bertha Adkisson; one brother-in-law, Harry Walker. He was preceded in death by three sisters, Lucille Burt, Gladys Puckett, Emma Troope and four brothers, Russell Church, Howard Church, Charles Church and Donald Church. Pallbearers will be Larry Winchester, Keith Winchester, Derek Church, Darrin Church, Jerry Church, Dodd Church and Bobby Troope. Honorary pallbearers will be Jim Adkisson, Clyde Yeager, Enoch George, Ashley Brown, Robert George, Gene Lunn, F.E. Davis, Leon Billingsley, Cam Anderson, Howard Wilder, Dr. James Kelley, retired Monsanto employees, members of St. Luke United Methodist Church, and staff of NHC Columbia.