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Home / Ijesa News / Obituary / Religious / 91-yr-old Ruth Elton, ‎Pioneering Pentecostal Missionary Dies in Ilesa ‎

91-yr-old Ruth Elton, ‎Pioneering Pentecostal Missionary Dies in Ilesa ‎

by KakakiOodua Media Services in Ijesa News, Obituary, Religious

‎Renowned British-born Nigerian missionary Ruth Elton, celebrated as the oldest missionary to Nigeria and a key figure in the nation’s Pentecostal revival, has died at the age of 91. Her passing marks the end of an extraordinary life dedicated to spreading Christianity, reducing infant mortality, and fostering spiritual renewal across western and central Nigeria.

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‎Elton passed away on Saturday at Sharon Compound in Alafia Bamin Quarters, Ilesa, Osun State. Her remains have been deposited at a local mortuary, where family and well-wishers are preparing for funeral arrangements.

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‎The family relocated to Nigeria in July 1937 when Ruth was just three years old, with Pa Elton serving as Area Superintendent of The Apostolic Church of Nigeria under the influential Prophet Joseph Ayo Babalola

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‎Born on September 7, 1933, in Britain, Ruth Elton was the only daughter of Sydney Granville Elton (affectionately known as Pa Elton) and Hannah Elton, pioneering British missionaries widely regarded as founders of the Pentecostal movement in Nigeria. The family relocated to Nigeria in July 1937 when Ruth was just three years old, with Pa Elton serving as Area Superintendent of The Apostolic Church of Nigeria under the influential Prophet Joseph Ayo Babalola.

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‎Pa Elton, who spent 50 years in the country until his death in Ilesa in 1987, mentored generations of Christian leaders and prophesied a future for Nigeria marked by righteousness and prosperity amid current challenges like corruption.

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‎Following in her parents’ footsteps, Ruth dedicated her life to missionary work, serving in communities across Egbe, Okene, Koton Karfe, and other areas in present-day Kogi, Ondo, Oyo, and Osun states. In the 1970s, she renounced her British citizenship through a Kaduna court to become a naturalized Nigerian, embracing the nation fully as dual citizenship was not permitted at the time.

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‎Fluent in Yoruba and Ebira, she remained unmarried, viewing her celibate life as a commitment to her divine calling, and authored three Christian books reflecting her faith journey.

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‎Beyond evangelism, Elton made lasting generational impacts, particularly in combating infant mortality in Okene, Kogi State. She recently shared experiences of how poor hygiene, lack of proper care, and practices like force-feeding contributed to high newborn death rates, crediting her grassroots education efforts with drastically reducing these tragedies during the late colonial and early postcolonial eras. Her work helped establish indigenous churches, including the Gospel Assemblies Intercontinental, among the Ebira people, where she was affectionately known as “Omotere” – the one who does good.

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‎Even in her later years, despite health challenges from an armed robbery attack during a mission trip, Elton upheld her father’s prophecies of a brighter future for Nigeria, emphasizing repentance, unity, and selfless leadership in the church.

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‎Tributes have poured in from Christian leaders and communities she touched, hailing her as a selfless icon whose life exemplified true investment in God’s eternal purpose.

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‎As Nigeria mourns the loss of this spiritual matriarch, her legacy of faith, healing, and revival continues to inspire a new generation of believers. Funeral details are expected to be announced soon by local church authorities.

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