Betty Ruth Stapleton, 76, of Portsmouth, died Monday, Dec. 17, 2007, at Heartland of Portsmouth.

She was born July 5, 1931, in Sciotoville, to the late Henry Clay and Nellie Ann Daniels Craft. Betty was a former nurse's aide and caregiver, and she had worked at the former Cooper's Corner in New Boston. She was of the Baptist faith.

Her husband, Frank Edward Cooper, whom she married in New Boston in 1952, preceded her in death Oct. 15, 1961.

Surviving are five sons, Leonard Stapleton, Steve Cooper and Alfred Cooper, all of Portsmouth, Randy Cooper of McDermott, and Rick Cooper of Philadelphia, Pa.; a daughter, Angela Reed of South Shore, Ky.; a brother, Ben Craft of Portsmouth; a sister, Virginia Mault of Wheelersburg; a special sister-in-law, Georgetta Craft of Portsmouth; 10 grandchildren; and five great-granddaughters.

She also was preceded in death by three sons, William Stapleton Jr., and Henry and John Cooper; 13 brothers, Leonard, Luther, Delbert, Arlie, Jack, James, Bill, Ervin, Vernon, Alfred, Paul, Calvin and Jason Craft; and two sisters, Ida White and Artie Craft.

Funeral services will take place at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Ralph F. Scott Funeral Home in Portsmouth, with the Rev. Paul W. Hagen officiating and interment in Scioto Burial Park. The family will receive friends at the funeral home Tuesday from 5 to 8 p.m., and from 10 to 11 a.m. Wednesday.

12/18/07