Ruth Ann Cochran Holmes passed away peacefully in the late hours of February 21, 2026, at her home in Paint Bank, Virginia, with her husband by her side, after a long illness. She was 75 years old. Ruth was born on November 15, 1950.

She will be lovingly remembered by her husband of 53 years, Carlton Holmes; her daughters, Mary Ann and Dara; her granddaughter, Lillia; her brother, Mason; her sister-in-law, Violy; along with close friends, neighbors, and extended family.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Keith and Mary (Hager) Cochran, formerly of Scottsboro, Alabama, and her younger brother, Paul Cochran.

Ruth, affectionately called "Annie" by her family, was born in Charleston, West Virginia, and spent her formative years in the Kanawha Valley. She graduated from George Washington High School in 1968 and continued her education at West Virginia Institute of Technology. After their marriage, she and Carlton moved to Indiana, Pennsylvania, where they lived until retiring to Paint Bank, Virginia.

Ruth, whose smile was said to be able to light up an entire room, had many hobbies. She enjoyed music, reading, exploring stars and planets with her telescope, bird-watching, handicrafts, gardening, and spending time with her family and friends. She also loved nature and traveling and had the opportunity to visit many places throughout the United States, as well as countries in Scandinavia, the United Kingdom, Africa, Japan, Canada, and Ireland. She was a wonderful mother and wife and a kind and caring sister, daughter, and friend. Her humor, laughter, and warmth will be greatly missed.

A private celebration of Ruth's life will take place at a later date. Memorial donations may be made to the Alzheimer's Association (www.alz.org) or to Three Rivers Avian Center (tracwv.org).