Betty Carruth

Betty Ruth Roberts Carruth went to be with her Heavenly Father on Monday, January 10, 2022 at her home in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
She was born on October 21, 1929, to James Carl and Minnie Ola Roberts in Comanche, Texas. Betty grew up in Comanche, attending Comanche High School, along with her 3 older brothers, graduating in 1945. After attending Tarleton College in Stephenville, she went on to hold a series of administrative jobs, meeting and subsequently marrying Elwood Carruth in September of 1950.
Betty chose academia as a career, earning her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Food Science/ Nutrition at Texas Technological University in 1965 and 1968. She was selected for a full academic scholarship to complete her Doctorate degree at the University of Missouri in 1971. She subsequently taught at the University of Minnesota for several years, then accepted a position as Director of Nutrition for the Multidisciplinary Adolescent Health Training Project at Southwestern Medical School in the mid- 1970s. In 1980, she moved to the position of Full tenured Professor at the University of Tennessee and continued there until her retirement in the year 2001. She was recognized in Food Science/ Nutrition circles across the nation throughout her career. Her research in pre-natal and adolescent nutrition has been widely published in professional and academic journals. Other accomplishments include serving on editorial boards for the Journal of Nutrition Education and the Journal of Adolescent Health Care, and serving as the Liaison for the American Dietetic Association and the American Medical Association’s National Adolescent Health Coalition.
She was an avid bridge player and immensely enjoyed gardening and landscaping. She enjoyed family time, including family reunions and visits from immediate and extended family members, all of whom she sincerely loved.
Betty was preceded in death by husband Elwood Carruth, her parents Carl and Minnie Roberts, brothers and their wives Jim and Betty Roberts, Harold and Dixie Roberts, Dick and Hannah Roberts, and daughter Ellen (Carruth) Oxendine.
She leaves behind, to cherish her memory, loving children Carla Carruth (Mason) Querner of Colorado Springs, Colorado, Chris (Deni) Carruth of Ft Worth, Texas, grandchildren Patrick Major of Colorado Springs, Colorado, Billee Oxendine of Knoxville, Tennessee, Ronnie Oxendine of Lenoir City, Tennessee, Mardi Carruth of Ft Worth, Texas, Alix Carruth of Kansas City, Missouri, and a number of great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews and other relatives.