Ruth Smith Storms, age 89, of Whiteville passed away peacefully on Monday, September 14, 2026 at West Bladen Assisted Living. Ruth was born on June 4, 1937 in Brooklyn, NY to the late Oscar Smith and Ella Herwick Smith who had immigrated from Norway. In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by her husband: Rodney Boyce Storms and sister: Linda Wall.
Ruth always loved to tell how she and her husband, Rodney, met during her rotation in a mental hospital while she was in nursing school. He was working there as well. She would say; “I met my husband in a mental hospital. Ruth and Rodney moved to Whiteville after marrying and there they raised four children.
She was one of the very first Nurse Practitioners in North Carolina. Her nursing number was 007. Ruth specialized in pediatrics and was the lead nurse at the Health Department in Whiteville. She retired from Columbus County Hospital and then went to Alaska to work as a Nurse Practitioner.
Ruth said some of her happiest years were when she was asked to go to Alaska, above the arctic circle, where she was a nurse supervisor. It was a very large area that she served over which required her to travel via snow mobiles and dog sleds.
She was a woman who had great sense of humor, who enjoyed reading, putting puzzles together and riding in the car. Her motto was: “I don’t care where I go, I just want to go.”
Left to cherish her memory are her children; son: Rodney Boyce Storms, Jr of Whiteville, daughter: Kathie Yocco (Dean) of Savannah, GA, twin sons: Michael and Mark Storms both of Whiteville, and sister: Nancy Ellen Smith of New Jersey. She was known as Bestemor or “Bestie” which means grandmother in Norwegian to 11 grandchildren, 4 great grandchildren and 2 great great grandchildren.
A funeral service will be held on Saturday, September 19, 2026, at 2:00 pm at Western Prong Baptist Church with Rev. Warren Hill officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends from 1:00 – 1:45 pm prior to the service.
Pallbearers will be William Blake, Franklin Davis, Jim McGourn, Mike Thompson, Robert White, and Jimmy Williams.
The family would like to express their sincere thanks to Caregivers: Carleen Bennett, Jennifer Juhasz, Sharon Spivey and Thetus Tatum.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Jimmy V. Foundation and also the Alzheimer’s Association.
McKenzie Mortuary
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