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Obituary for Ruth Eva Foxall

It is with deep sorrow that we announce the passing of Ruth Eva Foxall (née Balisky), on September 13, 2024, surrounded by her family, at the Westview Care Community in Linden, Alberta.

Ruth was born on March 14, 1927, in Sexsmith, Alberta, to George and Nellie Balisky, who were pioneers of their community and committed Christians. Ruth's early years on the family homestead were filled with the simple joys and hard work of rural life.

At the age of nine she accepted Christ and was baptized at fifteen during a transformative experience at Bear Lake Bible Camp. The profound influence of visiting missionaries, whom Nellie and George often hosted, stirred her own call to mission work. Ruth enjoyed being a student at the one-room Canuck School House and later at Grande Prairie High School.

Determined to serve abroad, Ruth studied at the Peace River Bible Institute for three years (1945-48). She then pursued her Registered Nurse diploma at the Royal Jubilee Hospital in Victoria, British Columbia, from 1949 to 1952, equipping her with the skills that would prove invaluable in her future medical ministry.

In the summer of 1952, she attended the SIM society (Serving In Mission) candidate school, where she met George Foxall. Their shared vision for mission work in Africa quickly blossomed into love, leading to their engagement later that year. It marked the beginning of a lifelong marriage partnership that would span continents and touch countless lives. They served together in Africa for forty years.

Ruth and George embarked on their missionary journey on separate ships from New York in early 1953. Ruth arrived in Katsina, Nigeria, in March, shortly after George. Her early months were marked by challenging yet transformative experiences, including her work at the Baba Ruga Leprosarium, where she provided medical care and learned the Hausa language.

“At last,” as Ruth would sigh in her diary, she and George were married on August 12, 1953 – all in white with orange blossoms in her hair – in a poignant ceremony attended by leprosy patients and missionary colleagues.

The Foxalls served in several challenging and remote locations, including Moriki and Kwoi, where Ruth's medical skills and compassionate heart made a profound impact. In Kwoi, she managed a busy outpatient department, conducted minor surgeries, and worked extensively with leprosy patients, earning the affectionate nickname “Maimurna,” meaning 'respected joyful one.'

In 1974, their ministry took them to Kaduna, where Ruth shifted focus from clinical work to spiritual and emotional support, managing a guest house, leading women's Bible studies, and participating actively in the International Women's Club.

After retiring to Three Hills, Alberta, in 1993, Ruth continued to share her gift of hospitality and neighbourliness in the community and in church. She and George remained active, traveling and maintaining connections with friends and family for many years.

Predeceased by her beloved husband George on April 5th of this year, Ruth is survived by their son David, daughter-in-law Justine, five of her siblings (four with spouses), four in-laws, and a wide circle of friends, family, nieces, nephews, and their families, as well as a community of believers worldwide who were inspired by her life and ministry.

Ruth's life was a beacon of God's love and a testament to her unwavering faith and her commitment to "do small things with great love." We celebrate the homecoming of a faithful servant who lived by the belief that serving God and his people was the highest calling.

A memorial service to celebrate Ruth's and George’s shared life and ministry will be held Saturday, October 5th, at 2:30 p.m. at the Prairie Tabernacle church in Three Hills, Alberta. The service will be live-streamed.

In lieu of flowers, if desired, contributions to honour Ruth may be made online to Prairie College’s Nursing Program or Peace River Bible College.

Click Below for Canadian Donations:

• Prairie College
• Peace River Bible Institute

Click Below for USA Donations:

• Prairie College

Obituary for George McWilliam Foxall

Rev. Dr. George Foxall passed away peacefully with family at his side on April 5, 2024, following a courageous battle with cancer. Born on June 20, 1930, in Stettler, Alberta, George became a faithful servant of the Lord, dedicated missionary, and respected theological educator.

George, his twin brother Ian, and sister Evelyn grew up in a humble Christian home and a small country church that deeply influenced his young heart. From an early age, George felt a divine calling to serve as a missionary in Africa. This calling shaped his educational path, leading him from the one-room schoolhouse near Erskine, Alberta to the halls of Prairie High School and onwards to Prairie Bible College. His commitment to developing Christian leaders propelled him to earn advanced degrees throughout his career, culminating in a Doctor of Missiology from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in 1994.

George began his missionary career at the ‘candidate school’ for the SIM society (Serving In Mission) in September 1952, where he also met his beloved wife Ruth Balisky. It marked the beginning of a lifelong ministry that would span continents and touch countless lives. They served together in Africa for forty years.

George and Ruth's missionary work commenced in Nigeria, where they faced numerous challenges with grace, including the isolation of Moriki and the thrilling challenges of serving the growing national ECWA Church (Evangelical Church Winning Africa) in Kwoi and Kaduna. George's passion for Biblical education led him to roles of increasing responsibility, from teaching at the Hausa Bible School to developing a broad Theological Education by Extension ministry in Nigeria, to his continent-wide contributions on the Accreditation Council for Theological Education in Africa (ACTEA). Furthermore, George was a visionary in promoting theological education by digitizing vital resources by African theologians and co-founding the online  Christian Ministry Academy with his son, David.

George's retirement years were spent in Three Hills, Alberta, where he continued to serve his community and enjoy travels with Ruth. His legacy is in the institutions he helped build, the students he taught, the friendships he nurtured, and the lives he touched with the unshakeable faith in God that he exhibited throughout his life.

George is survived by his loving wife, Ruth, their son, David, their daughter-in-law, Justine, many nieces, nephews and their families, and a community of believers worldwide who were inspired by his life and ministry. We celebrate the homecoming of a faithful servant who lived by the belief that serving God and his people was the highest calling. George's life was a beacon of God's love, and his legacy will continue to inspire future generations.

We found this verse highlighted with two sermon points in his tiny pocket KJV New Testament and Psalms: Psalm 116:15 “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.”  The two sermon points, you ask? 1. Trophy of God’s grace; 2. Triumph of God’s love.

A private family interment was held in Three Hills on 12 April 2024. A memorial service to celebrate Ruth's and George’s shared life and ministry will be held Saturday, October 5th, at 2:30 p.m. at the Prairie Tabernacle church in Three Hills, Alberta. The service will be live-streamed.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Refresh Ministries or Prairie College, which will continue George's lifelong commitment to sharing the Gospel, theological education, and serving those in spiritual leadership.

Click Below for Canadian Donations:

• Prairie College
• Refresh Ministries

Click Below for USA Donations:

• Prairie College

• Refresh Ministries

Interment Service for
George Foxall
12 April 2024

Memories & Tributes for George & Ruth: