Carol Lucille (Northam) Ruggles, 78, of North Little Rock, passed away surrounded by family, Sunday, October 14, 2018. She was born to Thurman Norris Northam and Hotona Lucille (Hendrix) Northam on July 7, 1940 in Artesia, NM. She is preceded in death by her husband of 25 years, Charles Bryan ”Jack” Ruggles.
Carol attended Eastern New Mexico University (ENMU) and Abilene Christian College. She received a Bachelor of Arts in elementary education from ENMU. She later earned her master’s degree from UALR.
As an educator for more than 40 years, Carol taught in Roswell, NM and in North Little Rock at Crestwood Elementary and Lakewood Middle School. Jack and Carol traveled every Sunday and Wednesday for 23 years from North Little Rock to Clarendon to minister at the local church. She was a member of the Levy Church of Christ and throughout her life she taught children’s Bible classes. She was a devoted student of the Bible and spent her life teaching about Christ and serving others, especially children. She absolutely adored her grandchildren. She spent time reading with them, attending school and sports activities, and encouraging their spiritual growth and faith.
Carol had a talent for drawing and watercolor. She attended local art class at the Hays Center. She was an avid tennis player, member of the North Little Rock Retired Teachers Association, and enjoyed walking the Lakewood lakes and meeting with her Coffee Klatch on Friday mornings.
Carol is survived by two daughters, Laura Lucille Frost and husband Don Alan Frost of North Little Rock, Minda Annette Ruggles of Calabasas, CA; two grandchildren, Zane and Kiley Frost; two sisters, Brenda Allen of Rio Rancho, NM, Iris Westfall (Darrell) of Glencoe, OK; two brothers, Thurman Northam (Carol) of Houston, TX, Roy Northam of Houston, TX; and a host of nieces, nephews, and friends.
Interment will be on Friday, October 19, 2018 at 11:00 AM at Little Rock National Cemetery. Memorial service will follow at 1:00 PM at Levy Church of Christ, 5124 Camp Robinson Road, North Little Rock, AR 72118. Visitation will be from 5:00 – 7:00 PM, Thursday, October 18, 2018 at Roller-Owens Funeral Home, 5509 John F. Kennedy Blvd, North Little Rock, AR 72116.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to: Clarendon Church of Christ, C/O Wayne Beadles, 24 Pecan Ridge, Clarendon, AR 72029 or Camp Blue Haven Memorials (located in the Santa Fe National Forest of New Mexico), PO Box 417, Marble Falls, TX, 78654.