Ruth Carter Stapleton (August 7, 1929- September 26, 1983) was the sister of Jimmy Carter and was known in her own right as a Christian evangelist. She died of pancreatic cancer in 1983.
Early life
Ruth Carter was born August 7, 1929, in Plains, Georgia, the third of the four children in the family of James Earl Carter, Sr. and Lillian Gordy Carter. Besides the former president, Stapleton had an older sister, Gloria (1926-1990) and a younger brother, Billy, (1937-1988). All three of them died of pancreatic cancer, along with their parents.
Education, career, and family
Stapleton earned her Bachelor's degree in English from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Stapleton later earned her theological degree. Stapleton married Robert Thome Stapleton, a successful veterinarian, in 1948 and had four children: Lynn (born 1950), Scott (born 1951), Patricia (born 1954) and Michael (born 1958). Stapleton suffered from chronic depression and a car wreck which nearly cost her her life during the time immediately following the birth of her children. Stapleton also complained of being "worthless", which motivated her to continue her education and pursue a career outside the home. In 1977, she became friends with pornographer Larry Flynt and managed to briefly convert him to Christianity. She was portrayed during this portion of Flynt's life by Donna Hanover in the film The People vs. Larry Flynt.
