Mary “Ruth” (nee Austin) Paschal, passed away peacefully at The Springs at Monarch Landing in Naperville, IL on January 8, 2026. She was born in Burdette, AR to Perry Lester Austin and Mary Gladys (nee Waltrip) Austin on January 25, 1939. She was raised on the family farm, graduated from Burdette High School in 1956 and attended the University of Memphis.

Ruth married the love of her life, Joe Paschal, on Christmas Eve of 1960. They welcomed two daughters, Lisa and Anita, and raised them in northeast AR and southeast MO. They retired to Lake Conroe in the Houston area in 1994. Early in her career, Ruth worked as a bookkeeper in banking and other industries, in addition to being a homemaker. She found peace on the water (lakes, oceans, rivers), enjoyed travel, shopping, dining out, the occasional martini, NASCAR, country music and all things Elvis Presley. Ruth and Joe had a strong sense of adventure and enjoyed boating, cruises and travel immensely; they particularly enjoyed spending time on their houseboat on Kentucky Lake. She was fiercely loyal and devoted to her family, acting as caregiver to her aging parents and then to her husband Joe in the last years of his life. Joe preceded Ruth in death in 2011.

In 2017 Ruth relocated to Monarch Landing in Naperville, IL. She readily adopted Naperville as her new home and made many wonderful friends and memories there. She moved into memory care at The Springs at Monarch Landing in 2022 and quickly became a resident and staff favorite due to her sweet nature and kind disposition. The epitome of class and grace, a true Grande Dame, Ruth was beloved by all. The family is eternally grateful to the staff at The Springs for the excellent care she received there.

Ruth is survived by her daughters, Lisa Paschal-Alcorn (John Alcorn) and Anita Paschal (Erik Botsford). She was preceded in death by her husband, Joe Paschal and her parents, Lester and Gladys Austin. She will be laid to rest later this spring between her husband and her parents in a private graveside service at Elmwood Cemetery in Blytheville, AR.

Ruth was an avid animal lover and experienced great joy from her many “grand dogs”. Donations in her memory may be made to Animals Deserving of Proper Treatment “A.D.O.P.T.” P.O. Box 2528, Naperville, IL 60567-2528. https://www.adoptpetshelter.org/donate/  Please note that your gift is being made in memory of Ruth Paschal so it may be acknowledged as a memorial tribute.