Ruth Estelle Branch, originally from Bogalusa, LA and a resident of Baton Rouge, LA, passed away on December 18, 2022, in her home in Baton Rouge after a lengthy illness.  Ruth grew up in Bogalusa and attended Auburn University, majoring in Microbiology. She started her career as a microbiologist for ConAgra Foods in Arkansas. Throughout her life she had several dogs and cats that became her "family".

Ruth is survived by a brother, LeRoy Kilpatrick Branch of Opelousas, LA; a sister, Rebecca Branch Combee of Baton Rouge, LA; 4 nephews, Lee Patrick Branch, Nathan Allen Branch, Walter Alton Combee III, Andrew Kilpatrick Combee and a niece, Emily Rebecca Combee.

Ruth was preceded in death by her parents, Dr. LeRoy Kilpatrick Branch and Willow Watkins Branch, along with her brother, John Erwin Branch.

She will be buried in a family plot at the Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church Cemetery on Thursday, December 22, 2022, at 1:00 P.M. in a small family graveside service. Because of the proximity to Christmas and predicted deplorable weather, the family requests that rather than spending the day driving to the service, that everyone would use this day to celebrate Christmas and honor Christ's birth and spend time with their family and friends and make new happy memories to move forward with into the new year.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a small donation to Saint Jude's children's cancer center, a charity that Ruth personally supported herself with donations throughout her life as a way to honor both her mother and father.

To view and sign the guestbook go to pooleritchiefuneralhome.com