The Ruark family has 7 children from parents Garrett and Ethel Ruark. Although they are not a fundamentalist family, they are known for their connection through the Duggar family through their daughter, Michelle Duggar. Currently, there are thirty one grandchildren, fifty nine great-grandchildren, and four great-great-grandchildren.
Family
- Garrett Floyd Ruark - December 7, 1924 to June 18, 2010[1]
- Ethel Marie Hardin - February 19, 1927 to August 11, 1991[2]
Anniversary: April 21, 1943[1]
Children
Name | Date of Birth | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Pamela Ethel Peters | June 17, 1944 | married to Jerry Peters with 4 children |
2 | Freda Benderman | October 4, 1948[3] | divorced from Thomas Benderman with 3 children[4]; died on December 4, 2015[5] |
3 | Evelyn Alice Ruark | partnered with Sharon Callahan | |
4 | Kathie Ann Arnold | September 19, 1952[6] | married to Richard Arnold with 2 children; Kathie died on March 14, 2013[6] and Richard died on August 31, 2020[7] |
5 | Garrett Floyd Ruark, Jr. | June 26, 1954[8] | married to Cindy Wiggins with 1 child |
6 | Carolyn Ann Hutchins | November 21, 1961[9] | married to John Hutchins with 2 children |
7 | Michelle Annette Duggar | September 13, 1966[10] | married to Jim Bob Duggar with 19 children |
Pamela's Family
Jerry Peters

Name | Date of Birth | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|
Doug Peters | married to Theresa Curry with 2 children and 2 grandchildren | ||
Timothy "Tim" Peters | married to Beth Drake with 4 children | ||
William "Will" Benjamin Peters | married to Angela Wiggins with 4 children and 2 grandchildren | ||
Jason Peters | married to Kristina Maxey with 6 children[11] |
Freda's Family
Thomas A. Benderman - March 18, 1941 - November 28, 2010
Anniversary: 1970[12]
Divorce: 1986[12]

Name | Date of Birth | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Johnnie Earley | married with 2 children | |
2 | Andre Benderman | about 1975 | |
3 | Leslie Mountain | married to Russell Mountain with at least 2 children |
Evelyn's Family

Sharon Callahan
Anniversary: December 28, 1988[13]
Kathie's Family
Richard "Rick" W. Arnold[14] September 12, 1949 to August 31, 2020[7]

Anniversary: June 5, 1971[6]
Name | Date of Birth | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Richard "Rick" Arnold | married to Emily Matthews with 3 children | |
2 | Laberta Dawn Holowiecki | married to Stan Holowiecki |

Garrett's Family
Cindy L. Wiggins - born on September 9[15] Anniversary: June 13, 1981[16]
Name | Date of Birth | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Erin M. Curington | married to Rusty Curington with 3 children[17] |

Carolyn's Family
John Hutchins - born on May 3, 1961[18]
Name | Date of Birth | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Jonathan Huston Hutchins | June 29, 1991[19] | married to Lyndsey Watson with 2 children |
2 | Rachel N. Wright | March 30, 1993[20] | married to Michael Wright with two children, (one deceased), has one additional child out of wedlock |
Michelle's Family

James Robert "Jim Bob" Duggar - born on July 18, 1965[10]
Anniversary: July 21, 1984[10]
Name | Date of Birth | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Joshua James Duggar | March 3, 1988[10] | married to Anna Keller with seven children |
Caleb Ryan Duggar | January 23, 1989[21] | miscarriage | |
2 | Jana Marie Duggar | January 20, 1990[10] | |
3 | John-David Duggar | January 20, 1990[10] | married to Abbie Burnett with one child |
4 | Jill Michelle Dillard | May 17, 1991[10] | married to Derick Dillard with three children |
5 | Jessa Lauren Seewald | November 4, 1992[10] | married to Ben Seewald with four children |
6 | Jinger Nicole Vuolo | December 21, 1993[10] | married to Jeremy Vuolo with two children |
7 | Joseph Garrett Duggar | January 20, 1995[10] | married to Kendra Caldwell with three children |
8 | Josiah Matthew Duggar | August 28, 1996[10] | married to Lauren Swanson with one child |
9 | Joy-Anna Forsyth | October 28, 1997[10] | married to Austin Forsyth with two children |
10 | Jedidiah Robert Duggar | December 30, 1998[10] | married to Katelyn Nakatsu with one child |
11 | Jeremiah Robert Duggar | December 30, 1998[10] | married to Hannah Wissmann |
12 | Jason Michael Duggar | April 21, 2000[10] | |
13 | James Andrew Duggar | July 7, 2001[10] | |
14 | Justin Samuel Duggar | November 15, 2002[10] | married to Claire Spivey |
15 | Jackson Levi Duggar | May 23, 2004[10] | |
16 | Johannah Faith Duggar | October 11, 2005[10] | |
17 | Jennifer Danielle Duggar | August 2, 2007[10] | |
18 | Jordyn-Grace Makiya Duggar | December 18, 2008[10] | |
19 | Josie Brooklyn Duggar | December 10, 2009[10] | |
Jubilee Shalom Duggar | December 11, 2011[22] | miscarriage |
Great Grandchildren
As of 2010, there were twenty great-grandchildren. There are at least fifty now, including:
- from Pamela: Tyler Peters (deceased), Leah Peters, Luke Peters, Ellie Peters, Jacob Peters, Annie Peters, Evan Peters, Kate Peters, Emily Peters, Libby Peters, four more girls, two more boys
- from Freda: Nick Zimmerman, Dane Zimmerman, Jorge, Alex, Ashley, Elissa Mountain, Jacob Mountain
- from Kathie: Xander Arnold, Sawyer Arnold, Thatcher Arnold
- from Garrett: Gabe Curington, Chloe Curington, Teddy Curington
- from Carolyn: Tyler Hutchins, Girl Hutchins, Matthew Hutchins, Timothy Wright (deceased), Abigail Wright
- from Michelle: Mackynzie Duggar, Michael Duggar, Marcus Duggar, Israel Dillard, Meredith Duggar, Spurgeon Seewald, Henry Seewald, Samuel Dillard, Mason Duggar, Gideon Forsyth, Garrett Duggar, Felicity Vuolo, Ivy Seewald, Addison Duggar, Bella Duggar, Maryella Duggar, Grace Duggar, Evelyn Forsyth, Evangeline Vuolo, Brooklyn Duggar, Fern Seewald, Madyson Duggar, Truett Duggar, Frederick Dillard
Great-Great Grandchildren
The Ruark family has four known great-great-grandchildren, the great-grandchildren of Pamela; Zadia Alford[23], Sterling Alford [24], Shiloh Peters[25] and Benjamin Peters[26][27].
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/hamilton/obituary.aspx?page=lifestory&pid=143638406&cxtype=feedbot
- ↑ https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/57651824
- ↑ https://flvoters.com/pages/b105891.html
- ↑ https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/pensacolanewsjournal/obituary.aspx?n=thomas-benderman&pid=146853828
- ↑ https://imgur.com/a/ctApjqV
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/name/kathie-arnold-obituary?pid=1000000163664853
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 https://www.charlesyoungfuneralhome.com/obituary/rick-arnold?lud=93704E634BF9772B8654846A5D7FCEAD
- ↑ https://www.mylife.com/garrett-ruark/e733992942060
- ↑ http://www.arkansas-voters.com/akvoteld_view.php?editid1=13066
- ↑ 10.00 10.01 10.02 10.03 10.04 10.05 10.06 10.07 10.08 10.09 10.10 10.11 10.12 10.13 10.14 10.15 10.16 10.17 10.18 10.19 10.20 10.21 http://www.duggarfamilyblog.com/p/birthdays.html
- ↑ https://scontent-ort2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t31.0-8/19984066_10203735858754205_4807294365774759852_o.jpg?_nc_cat=0&oh=a48cc2a16284242b367950b2bf226791&oe=5BA162A8
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 https://www.myheritage.com/names/freda_benderman#col_a_10212
- ↑ https://imgur.com/a/eAhK1GU
- ↑ http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/hamilton/obituary.aspx?pid=163664853
- ↑ https://www.facebook.com/cindy.wigginsruark/posts/475924622437917
- ↑ https://www.facebook.com/garrett.ruark.3/about?lst=523436897%3A100007974453875%3A1510587650
- ↑ https://www.facebook.com/rusty.curington/posts/10212035402704998
- ↑ http://www.arkansas-voters.com/akvoteld_view.php?editid1=13208
- ↑ http://www.arkansas-voters.com/akvoteld_view.php?editid1=3477212
- ↑ http://www.arkansas-voters.com/akvoteld_view.php?editid1=3566416
- ↑ https://www.geni.com/people/Caleb-Duggar/6000000021645968129
- ↑ http://www.theblaze.com/news/2011/12/16/duggars-take-heartbreaking-pictures-with-stillborn-baby-girl/
- ↑ https://imgur.com/a/qh1cufG
- ↑ https://imgur.com/LU73I8E
- ↑ https://imgur.com/0xVSzK8
- ↑ https://imgur.com/a/9wSgktO
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rh53bCgILA0