Obituary for Ruth White

Ruth Mae White

(December 22, 1929 – February 10, 2016)

Ruth Mae White, 86, passed away unexpectedly at her home west of Ponca City, Wednesday morning, February 10, 2016. A memorial service for Ruth will be held at 10:00 am, Saturday, February 13, 2016 at New Hope Christian Fellowship: 401 S. Lincoln in Ponca City. Pastor Jack Adams will officiate the service and burial of the cremains will be in Newkirk Cemetery by the family at a later date.

Ruth Mae White was born December 22, 1929 in Three Sands in Noble County, Oklahoma a daughter of Clark Willis Watson and Marie Esther (Grove) Watson. She attended school at Three Sands and at Tonkawa; but had to quit school for a time because of illness. She returned to high school at Marland and graduated in 1949. Her family was very active in the Nazarene Church in Tonkawa. As a young girl, she sang at revivals throughout the Northwest Oklahoma Nazarene District. Before her marriage she was employed at Barker’s Grocery in Tonkawa and was also a waitress.

She was married on July 20, 1956 to Earl Edward White in Tonkawa and they made their first home in Ponca City. They moved to Arkansas City for a short time and then returned to Ponca City. They made their home on an acreage west of Ponca City for the last 45 years. Ruth was a house wife and later was employed for several years by Pryse Monument Company in Ponca City and at Snyders’ Bois d’Arc Grocery.

She was a loving wife and mother who insisted on her family attend church and be involved with church activities and with the church family. She played piano for many years at the old Westside Nazarene Church and also First Nazarene where she was a member for the past several years. She became a member of New Hope Christian Fellowship Church in 2015 and attended as often as her health permitted. She was a good cook and could usually be found in her kitchen. Her family speaks of "Mom’s Magic Pot" because she could always make a very good meal for unexpected company on short notice and there was always enough for everyone. She was usually in the garden with her husband or playing her piano when she wasn’t cooking or baking. Her family and her church were her life. She and her husband were always helping others in need, either financially or in other ways and they often shared their hospitality for months at a time. Many hours were spent on her knees praying for family and friends and she was known for her devotion to God and the church.

Her husband passed away Sept. 28, 2013 after 57 years of marriage and she was also preceded in death by an infant daughter, Shannon White in 1959, four sisters, Winona Watson, Esther Murray, Gail Kahler and Nacola Watson, four brothers, Jim, Harvey, Lyle and Baby Boy Watson, and a half brother, Clarence Watson.

She is survived by two daughters, Shelly Martin and husband Carl, Lori Russell and husband Steve, one son, David White, her good friends and longtime caregivers, Art and Jolette Speir, all of Ponca City, one brother, Howard D. Watson, of Ark City, KS, four grandsons and six great-grandchildren, and many other relatives and friends.

Source: Trout Funeral Home