Ruth Carmack

Ruth Beatrice (Shaloviejus) Carmack passed away in her sleep Tuesday June 14, 2016 in North Little Rock, Arkansas. She had celebrated her 87th birthday on May 8, which was also Mother’s Day. She was the wife of the late LTC (Ret) Lloyd Dayton Carmack, and the mother of Lloyd Dayton Carmack, Jr., Elaine Ruth (Carmack) Doherty and Alan Gregory Carmack; and the longtime friend of Frank. She was born in Worcester, Massachusetts on May 8, 1929 to Joseph Shaloviejus and Beatrice Vaizgirdis Shaloviejus. She was predeceased by her parents; stepmother Christene Shaloviejus, brother Edward Shaloviejus, half-sister Diana Orbon, and niece Susan Shaloviejus. She is survived by her children; eight grandsons: Scott, Pat, Sean, P.J., Benjamin, Nicolas, Matthew, Timothy; granddaughter, Rebecca; great grandchildren Sophie, Jonas, Nina, and Tripp; daughter-in-law Mary Lou Carmack; son-in-law James Doherty; niece Karin Orbon Curran; and Rasa Salavejute, Linas Salavejus.
Ruth was a first generation Lithuanian-American and spoke fluent Lithuanian. She graduated from Commerce High School in Worcester and studied at Becker Junior College Secretarial School. She was inspired by an "I Want You" poster in a US Post Office and began work for the National Science Foundation in Washington DC, whose director would teach her a new vocabulary word each day; and, later, for the US government in Heidelberg, Germany, where she met Lloyd. When Lloyd wanted to date her, she replied if you can remember how to spell my last name, you can ask me out. The two married on August 15, 1954. Ruth was a dedicated wife, homemaker, mom, grandma, great grandma, and friend. After decades of city life, she retired with her husband to enjoy the beauty of rural Arkansas. She enjoyed art, quilting, nature, travel, reading, genealogy, Bible study and could strike up a conversation with anybody. She cooked the best beef pot roast. Her travels took her to Carmacks, Yukon; Hawaii; Germany, Lithuania, Holland; and almost every state in the union. A stained glass window she made adorns the family house. The last biography she read was of Zelda Fitzgerald. She retained a Massachusetts accent and faith in God her entire life. She will be laid to rest next to her husband at Mt Olive Cemetery located in Montgomery County, Arkansas.
Services entrusted to Arkansas Cremation. Guests may register at www.ArkansasCremation.com.

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