Meet Ruth

July 21, 2021

Ruth is the oldest living member of our first born daughters. She may be 100 years old, but she is in good health and doesn't take any medication.

She was born in 1921, in Kansas, to Lavona and Ralph. Ralph and Lavona 2019. She spent her childhood on a farm in Kansas.

Lavona and Ruth.

Ruth was the older sister of two younger brothers.

Ruth's dad died when she was 4, from the effects of mustard gas from WWI

When she was a little girl, she and her Aunt Jose carved these wooden dolls and made clothes for them. Her aunt was only four when Ruth was born.

Ruth with her brothers and Aunt Tye and Aunt Jose.

When Ruth was seven, she decided her birthday should be on the 7th instead of the 6th. She wanted to be like her brother, who had a birthday on the 7th. From then on, she refused to celebrate it on any date but the 7th. Later, when she got her social security card and birth certificate, she had her mom put the 7th as her birthdate.

When she was eight, her mother remarried. Ruth became an older sister to George,who is 11 years younger than her, and Ethel, who is thirteen years younger than her.

Ruth's 8th grade graduation. Even though Ruth didn't have the opportunity to go as far in school as she would have like, she continues to have a thirst for knowledge. She enjoys reading and learning new things. When her daughters were in college, she would read their materials. She still reads through encyclopedias she has had since the 70s. Now she says, "This is wrong" and tells us what it should say.

Ruth with her mother and brothers.

Ruth with her mother and siblings.

Ruth married Ralph in 1941, in Texas.

Ruth volunteered at a hospital for 13 years. Her favorite memory of this time is taking a mom with her two twins to their car. Now there are lots of twins and other multiples, but not back then.

She was a member of the Fireman's Auxiliary, Book Club, Writing Club, and Music Club. Ruth in a fashion show. After Ralph died, she spent time traveling in Europe and going on tours to different parts of the US.

Ruth continues to collect Christmas Seal Stamps.

Ruth turned 100 on June 7, 2021.

Ruth has two daughters, Mary Ruth and Betty Jo. Every other year, she goes on a trip with her daughters. They have visited Ruth's sister in Colorado, brother in Kansas, grandson in Oklahoma, and granddaughter in New Mexico and followed Route 66.

Ruth's first granddaughter, Sherry, was born to Mary Ruth in 1967.

Ralph, Ruth, and Sherry in 1976,

Betty Jo had Ruth's second grandchild, Brenda. Lavona, Ruth, Betty Jo, and Mary Ruth. Brenda, and Sherry in 1972.

Ruth's third granddaughter, Lisa, was born to Mary Ruth in 1976. Ruth with Lisa.

Ruth, Ralph, and Lisa. Brenda, George, Betty Jo, Mary Ruth, Buck and Sherry.

Ruth was elated when her first grandson, George Richard, was born.

George Richard, Ruth, and Betty Jo.

Ruth was a wonderful grandmother to her four grandchildren, who made Mickey shaped pancakes for breakfast, played, read, told stories, taught games, and made each grandchild feel loved and special.