Ruth Cliatt Gilbert

Annie “Ruth” Cliatt Houser Gilbert, a devoted wife, mother and grandmother, a hard working business woman and a faithfully strong Christian, born July 8, 1929, in Atlanta, Georgia, and passed away on July 10, 2026 in Columbus, Georgia at Covenant Woods at the age of 97.

The middle child of William and Pauline Cliatt, Ruth grew up in Columbus, GA graduating from Columbus High School in 1947, for which she always held great pride and school spirit. Ruth moved to Athens for college, attending The University of Georgia where she was a member of Kappa Alpha Theta and graduated with an Education Degree. During a summer Business Law course in Columbus, she fell in love with her professor Rembert C. Houser. Following her UGA graduation in 1951, they were married. Ruth and Rembert enjoyed the next 33 years together, raising their three children, until his death in 1984.

Ruth was a proud school teacher for over 20 years at Wynnton Elementary teaching 3rd and 4th grade. She found great joy in seeing old students and parents throughout Columbus and hearing that “Mrs. Houser was their favorite teacher”!\nIn 1992, Ruth married Thomas “Billy” Dean Gilbert. Ruth and Billy loved traveling the world together and spending time with their children, grandchildren and friends, until his death in 2009.

Ruth was passionate about life, her community and family! She made it her job to keep up with what everyone in the family was doing and how they were doing. She always enjoyed an outing to Dinglewood Pharmacy, the Springer Opera House or the Columbus Country Club. She was a member of the Ivy Garden Club, Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) and St. Luke United Methodi...