Published: April 29, 2007 02:15 pm      

Ruth M. Barco [Petersburg]

PETERSBURG, W.Va. — Ruth M. Barco, 93, of Petersburg, W.Va., died Saturday, April 28, 2007, at the Grant County Nursing Home.

She was born May 17, 1913, in Mill Creek, W.Va., the daughter of the late Bailey Manathon Barco and Estella Cecile (Conrad) Barco. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by a brother and a sister.

She was the last surviving member of her immediate family.

Ms. Barco graduated from Davis Memorial Hospital School of Nursing, Elkins, W.Va. and attended Peabody College in Nashville, Tenn., specializing in Public Health Nursing. She spent 40 years in the field of nursing, with the last 35 years as an employee of the State Health Department, being assigned to county public health nurse positions throughout West Virginia.

She was a member of the State Public Health Association, the State Nurses Association since 1935, and was instrumental in organizing sub-district 6, composed of nurses from Grant, Hardy, Mineral, and Pendleton counties. She held various offices in nursing organizations and was elected the first historian of the State Public Health Nurses Section.

Ms. Barco retired from active public health nursing in 1973, and continued to make her home in Petersburg. She served this county as its only public health nurse from 1947 until her retirement.

Surviving are two grandnieces, Ms. Pam Belt of Rocky River, Ohio and Faith Skinner, also of Ohio; a second cousin, Ms. Barbara Callis of Silver Spring, and several great-grandnieces and nephews.

Ms. Barco’s request was that her body be donated to the Human Gift Registry, West Virginia University, Morgantown, W.Va.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Grant County Nursing Home, Safe Harbor Continuing Nursing Education Program, 27 Early Ave., Petersburg, WV 26847.

A community gathering to honor the late Ruth Barco will be held at a later date.