Obituary for Ruth Burrows

Ponca City Now - September 27, 2017 4:13 pm

Ruth Burrows

August 11, 1920 – September 25, 2017

Ruth Raulston Speaker Burrows, age 97, long time resident of Ponca City, Oklahoma, passed away Monday, September 25, 2017 in Ponca City.

The family has requested no public viewing. A graveside ceremony to celebrate her life will be held at 3:30 pm, Friday, September 29, 2017 at the Resthaven Memorial Park with Pastor Robert Montgomery officiating. Arrangements are under the direction of Trout Funeral Home & Crematory.

Ruth was born on August 11, 1920 to Elmer Speaker and Florence Fleischer Speaker in McAlester, OK. While she was young, her family moved to Louisiana for her father’s job. Shortly after their arrival, he passed away, so her mother moved to Tulsa where they lived during Ruth’s education. In 1938, Ruth graduated from Tulsa Central High School. Following high school, she attended Oklahoma State University joining the Chi Omega sorority. After college, Ruth returned to Tulsa where she met David B. Burrows. They were married in Tulsa on April 12, 1941, residing there until David was hired at Conoco in 1949, moving the family to Ponca City. Throughout the years, Ruth and David were faithful members of First Presbyterian Church. Ruth loved getting her hands dirty in the garden. Her home on Lake Ponca had terraces she and David spent much time and effort landscaping, as well, Ruth took care of the flowers in the courtyard at First Presbyterian Church.

Survivors include her children Susan Peeples and husband Gerald of Bowling Green, KY, David S. Burrows of Kingwood, TX; grandchildren: Jeffrey Peeples and wife Debby of Bowling Green, KY, Lisa Collier and husband Mike of Collierville, TN, Kimberley Lawson and husband Victor of Kingwood, TX, Keri Burrows of Kingwood, TX, David Hodges and wife Shannon of Temecula, CA, and Heather Roberts and husband Colin of Plano, TX, as well as ten great grandchildren.

Ruth was preceded in death by her parents, husband, sister Dottie Edmister, and daughter Sally Ellis.

Memorial Contributions may be made to the First Presbyterian Church, 1505 E. Grand Ave., Ponca City, OK 74604.

Source: Trout Funeral Home