Ruth Golden Downey, age 85, of 305 Thirteenth Street, Selma, died Sunday, December 20, 2009 at her residence.

Born September 6, 1924 in Selma, Virginia, she was a daughter of the late John Wesley Golden Sr. and Ardelia Walters Golden.

She was a member of the Selma Church of the Brethren.

She was a former nurse's aide at Liberty House Nursing Home and was also a homemaker.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her first husband, Bertram Lipes; her second husband, William D. "Bill" Downey; a sister, Pauline Golden Pace; three brothers, John Golden, Jr., Wayne Golden, and Paul Golden, and a step son, William Doyle "Doc" Downey.

She is survived by two daughters , Bonnie Hayslett and husband, Donnie of Selma and Angie Montgomery and husband, Jeff of Roaring Run; a step daughter, Ella M. LeBleu and husband, Rick of Clifton Forge; five sisters, Marguerite Bunch of Clifton Forge, Marie Shanks of Millboro, Betty Jewel Schnurr and husband, James of Kentucky, Mildred Keyser and husband, James of Abingdon and Carol Grady and husband, Bobby of Covington; a brother, Ronald Golden and wife, Donna of North Carolina; three grandchildren, Miranda Napier and husband, Jamie of Fincastle, Don Hayslett, Jr. of Selma and Timmy Hayslett of Eagle Rock; four great grandchildren, Haley Snead and Dylan Snead of Fincastle, Kyleigh Napier of Fincastle and Taylor Brown of Goodview; three sisters-in-law, Glenna Lipes , Helen Lipes, both of Covington; and Judy Golden of Kentucky; and a number of step grandchildren, step great grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

A funeral service was held on Wednesday at 2:00 p.m. in the Mausoleum Chapel of Alleghany Memorial Park, Low Moor with Reverend Ed West officiating. Interment followed in Alleghany Memorial Park. The family received friends Wednesday afternoon at Nicely Funeral Home, Clifton Forge.

The Nicely Funeral Home, Clifton Forge, Virginia, handled the arrangements.