Ruth Margaret Kiziah

Ruth Walsh Kiziah, 94, of Grace Chapel, passed away on January 8, 2026, at Conover Rehabilitation and Nursing Center. Her family is grateful to the dedicated staff who loved and cared for her during her final weeks. Ruth was born prematurely on January 25, 1931, in Rhodhiss, NC, the only daughter of Carl and Emma Walsh, after a string of three boys. Tiny and frail at birth, the doctor told her parents they likely wouldn’t get to raise their little girl.

Boy, was he wrong.

When Ruth’s folks first sent her to elementary school, she soon returned home because the principal told her she was “too littly” to start school. It surely wouldn’t be the first time someone underestimated her. Despite a Depression-era childhood and the loss of her father at the age of 10, Ruth grew, perhaps not tall, but certainly strong—a disposition that would serve her well as she built future family businesses with her husband.

In tenth grade, Ruth took notice of a handsome Floyd Kiziah during study hall at Granite Falls High School. Floyd soon dropped out to join the Navy, but when Ruth was working at Granite Dime Store, she saw his mama and sister, and they gave her Floyd’s address. Her mama, Emma, admonished her for this bold move, but undeterred, Ruth wrote to Floyd and included her senior picture. As Floyd would always tell it, he promptly ran around the barracks showing the picture of “his girl” to all of his fellow enlistees who didn’t believe such a lanky Southern boy was going steady with a movie star.

Floyd returned to North Carolina to tend to the courtship of his sassy, five-foot beauty. She gave him a run for his money, but they eventually married on September 11, 1949, at his mama and daddy’s house with just over $12 to their name.

Ruth knew what she was doing. Over the years, she and Floyd would own and operate multiple businesses, beginning with Falls Avenue Grocery in Granite Falls. During this time, they began their family, welcoming Marcia in 1950 and then Gwyn in 1954. In 1958, Ruth and Floyd moved to Florida, and in 1960, they rounded out their family with the birth of their daughter, Patricia.

In Hollywood, FL, while Floyd started the family business, Best-Way Plumbing, Ruth began working at Hollywood Federal Savings and Loan, first as a teller before promotions to head teller and then loan officer. Her grandchildren loved to visit their Nana at work, certain they would walk away with candy and cash, but not before weighing themselves on the giant scale in the lobby.

Throughout their three decades in Hollywood, Ruth and Floyd made countless friends, settled in a beautiful Hollywood Hills home (complete with shag carpet and a poolside wet bar), and — much to everyone’s surprise — joined the Arthur Murray Dance Club.

In the early 1990s, Ruth and Floyd moved to St. Augustine, FL, where they opened two successful antique shops: Grandma’s Attic and later Antique Corner. In 2000, they sold both shops, moved back to Grace Chapel, and began what everyone assumed would be a restful retirement on their beautiful property overlooking Lake Hickory.

In 2010, the family braced themselves when Ruth went in for open heart surgery. After opening her up for a second time in one day, the doctor came out and informed the family there was nothing more he could do and to prepare for the worst. Once again, the doctor was wrong.

Ruth and Floyd opened another shop – Antique Corner Mall – off Highway 321 in Hudson just a few weeks after Ruth’s surgery. Yes, we can all agree it wouldn’t have killed Floyd to delay the opening just a little longer. Nonetheless, Ruth and Floyd remained involved in its daily operation well into their 90s with the help of trusted and loyal employees who will miss them just as much as their family will.

Though Ruth and Floyd Kiziah would never become the jet set, through hard work, an entrepreneurial spirit, and a determined desire to give their children and future generations a better chance than they had, they pieced together a good life and a loving family who still gets together every year at the family home on Lake Hickory.

Lord knows how she ever had time for hobbies, but Ruth enjoyed preparing her special concoction of emu oil lotion to gift to others, sending and receiving Christmas cards, and finding new recipes to prepare and share. For as long as they live, Ruth’s family will remember her rum cake, her sweet Dolly Parton-like voice, and the way she always slapped her knee whenever she thought something was really funny — like that time her then 45 year-old son, Gwyn, greeted her on Christmas morning wearing only bright red briefs, green suspenders, Christmas socks, and a Santa hat. Try not to visualize that.

Ruth is survived by her three children Marcia (Louis) Esposito, Gwyn (Phyllis) Kiziah, and Patricia (Mark Chin) Kiziah; her grandchildren Frankie (Gina) Esposito, Robbie (Crystal) Esposito, Melissa Esposito, Matthew (Katie) Kiziah, Emma (Michael) Humphries, Lauren (Travis) Roque, Noelle (Brad) Peacock, Caroline (Chris) Dofort, and Chloe Chin; 17 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-granddaughter. She is also survived by her devoted brother-in-law, Cecil Kiziah, and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends whom she loved dearly.

Ruth was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 74 years, Floyd; her parents, Carl and Emma; her brothers, Paul, Homer, and Conrad; and her cherished grandson, Justice Michael Kiziah Chin.

Rest easy, dearest Nana. We’ll handle the holiday rum cakes and monthly dealer checks, but you still have to get up early with Papa every Saturday to hit those heavenly garage sales. Give him and Justice big hugs for us.

Funeral Services will be held at 2:00 P.M. Saturday January 31, 2026 at Amazing Grace Lutheran Church in Granite Falls, with Rev. Tony Bradshaw officiating. Interment will follow at St. Matthews Cemetery. 

The family will receive friends on Saturday from 1:00-2:00 P.M. at Amazing Grace Lutheran Church. 

Memorial gifts may be made to Amazing Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church.

When Christ shall come, with shout of acclamation, And take me home, what joy shall fill my heart. Then I shall bow, in humble adoration. And then proclaim, my God, how great Thou art

Mackie Funeral Service & Cremations of Granite Falls is serving the family.