CHURCH, Nina Beth

Nina Beth Church Born in Phoenix, Arizona on March 11, 1923. Departed on March 9, 2005 and resided in Cottonwood, AZ. Services for Cottonwood resident Nina Beth (Pruitt) Church are Saturday, March 12, at 10:30 a.m. in Godard Hall of Verde Valley Manor. Mrs. Church attended a one-room school in Casa Grande and later schools in Glendale, South Phoenix and Wilson as a constant A student. She had worked in many areas of food service. She had worked at Mingus Union High School as a security officer and was known as “Sgt. Pepper” by the students. Her uncle, Cpl. John Henry Pruitt, was a recipient of two Medals of Honor. She was a member of Beta Sigma Phi, Laureate Alpha Phi, Red Hat Society and a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Her hobbies included sewing, hairdressing and making wedding cakes (of which she made over 100). She also volunteered her time and love to everyone as a Hospice caregiver. Survivors include her best friend and companion of 10 years, Frank Spencer; son Gene Elliot Groves and Rhonda (Bazzill) Groves; her father Hurley B. Pruitt (the first marshal of Scottsdale) and mother Grace H. Adams Pruitt; sisters Linda H. Albanese and Georgia E. Ahrlich; grandchildren Matthew Bazzil, Cameron Bazzil and Cydney Rumpf; great-grandchildren Hanna and Grace Rumpf and Jaden Bazzil; and 20 nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by a brother, John Henry Pruitt. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorial donations be made to Hospice of Cottonwood.