Ruth Juanita Rice Penland, 79, of Asheville, passed away on Tuesday, September 29, 2026. She was a lifelong resident of Buncombe County and the daughter of the late Frank Carter Rice and Pauline Ray Browning. She is preceded in death by her husband Lloyd Penland, daughter Donna Penland, son Jeffrey Penland, two sisters Darlene Honeycutt and Barbara Robinson, and two brothers Bernice and Neil Rice.

Ruth is survived by daughters, Patricia and Kathy Penland; sons, Johnnie Penland and Preston Hubbard; twin sister, Ruby Allen, several grandchildren, nieces, and nephews.

A funeral service will be held at 11:30am Saturday, October 10, 2026, at Blue Ridge Funeral & Cremation Service. Burial will follow at Green Hills Cemetery.

The family will receive friends from 10:30-11:30am on Saturday at the funeral home.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.blueridgefuneralservice.org