Ruth Ballance Sadler, 97, of 315 Church Street, Fairfield, died early Saturday at Vidant Inpatient Hospice in Greenville.

Born in Hyde County, July 10, 1918, she was the daughter of the late James Madison and Lydia White Ballance . She was married to Lindsey Woodley Sadler who preceded her in death. She was devoted to her family and Hyde County for which she had a deep love.

In the 1940's, she was well known to visitors as she issued hunting and fishing licenses. Later, she and her husband operated the former Sadler's Fairfield Inn which was later known as Mattamuskeet Inn. She and her husband later moved and operated the Sadler's Bed and Breakfast and she operated that until she was 90 years old. She was a member of the Fairfield United Methodist Church, the Friendship Book Club and always enjoyed hosting meetings in her home.

Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Monday in Fairfield United Methodist Church. Rev. Josh Horne, Pastor and Steve Bryan will officiate. Burial will follow in Fairfield Cemetery. Her nephews will service as pallbearers.

Surviving are a son, J. Woodley Sadler of Greenville and Fairfield; two brothers, Allen Ballance and Gene Ballance of Fairfield; a sister, Joyce B. Jones of Fairfield; a granddaughter, Teresa H. Cunningham and husband, Jack of Walstonburg; two great-grandchildren, Emily Ruth Cunningham and Travis Cunningham and wife, Mindy all of Greenville.

She was also preceded in death by a daughter, Barbara Sadler Harris; brothers, Clen and Kirk Ballance; a sister, Cora B. Best.

Memorials are suggested to Vidant Inpatient Hospice, c./o Greenville Service League, Wellness Drive, Greenville NC 27834 or Fairfield United Methodist Church, c/o Ashlyn Ballance, Treas. Fairfield NC 27826.

The family will receive friends on Sunday between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. at Bryan Funeral Service, Swan Quarter.

Bryan Funeral Service, Swan Quarter

Sunday June 5th, 2016

5:00pm - 7:00pm

119 Main Street
Swan Quarter, NC 27885

Funeral Service

Fairfield United Methodist Church

Monday June 6th, 2016

11:00am

126 Church Street
Fairfield, NC 27826

Graveside Service

Fairfield Cemetery

Monday June 6th, 2016

12:00pm

Piney Woods Road
Fairfield, NC 27826