Elsie "Ruth" Zirkelback

Elsie “Ruth” Zirkelback, 81, of Vancleave, MS passed away on Friday, July 31, 2026 in Ocean Springs.

Ruth was born on September 1, 1944, in Sylvarena, MS. She was a member of First Baptist Church of Windsor Park. Ruth had a special love for children and spent many years working in childcare. She enjoyed spending time with her family, especially traveling with them to the Smoky Mountains, Destin, FL and Walt Disney World. Ruth was an avid New Orleans Saints fan. She enjoyed having breakfast at The Coffee Grind.

She was preceded in death by her husband, William “Maurice” Zirkelback; her parents, Ottis “Preston” and Cora Lee Gregory; and her brother, Ottis Lee Gregory.

Ruth’s survivors include her children, Angelia Bone, Bobbie Martinez and Michelle Lorenzo; her sister-in-law, Rachel Gregory; her nephew, Billy Gregory; her grandchildren, Ricky Bannister-Bone, Christal Bone, Henry Black, Veronica Black, Joshua “Gabriel” Garcia, William “Jordan” Bartmess, Alexander Lorenzo and Christian Lorenzo; her great-grandchildren, Ty Bone-Wade, Zane Bone-Wade, Genevieve Garcia and Gaius Garcia; and her expected great-grandchild, Parker Bartmess in January 2027.

A funeral service will be held at 11:00am on Monday, August 10, 2026 at Bradford-O'Keefe Funeral Home, Ocean Springs, MS. Friends may visit one hour prior. Burial will follow at Biloxi National Cemetery.

Bradford-O’Keefe Funeral Home is honored to serve the family of Elsie “Ruth” Zirkelback.