(From Parker Mortuary)
Ruth Frances Erwin-Eldridge, 93, of Joplin, laid down to take a nap and slipped quietly and peacefully into the arms of our Lord Jesus on the afternoon of Saturday, June 18, 2016.
Ruth was born near Catoosa, Oklahoma on April 14, 1923, the daughter of the late George A. Erwin and Maud Josephine Wells-Erwin. Growing up in the Great Depression, she moved to Tulsa to complete school and graduated from Central High School, Tulsa, with the class of 1940. While in high school Ruth participated in the water ballet team with classmate Esther Williams, who went on to Hollywood fame.
On September 18, 1942 she married her first husband, Wallace “Wally” Porter. Wally enlisted in the army the next month and fought in the European Theater of World War II. He was killed in action in Italy on October 6 1944.
Ruth then moved to San Diego, California where she spent the rest of the war working for the Army Corps of Engineers. At the war’s end she met a young blue eyed Marine named Orval Eldridge. They were married three months later, on October 29, 1945 in Yuma, Arizona.
The couple made their home in the Four States, moving first to Baxter Springs where Orval was a manager for Vickers. Realizing that he wasn’t meant for the corporate world, Orval established the Eldridge Automotive Company (later Eldridge Muffler) at 12th and Joplin, in Joplin, which he maintained until his retirement in 1981. Although the building was sold after Orval’s passing, the distinctive muffler sign that he constructed stands to this day.
Ruth loved her church, Blendville Christian Church, and was the missions chairperson for many years. She was also very involved in other areas, such as the choir, and had a deep and passionate love for the Lord. She worked for many years with the Southeast Kansas Community Action Program as a social worker. She was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary, the Veteran's of Foreign War Auxiliary, and the Disabled American Veterans Auxiliary.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her first husband Wallace Porter and her lifelong husband, Orval; by two sisters, Miriam and Bertha; four brothers, Willis, George, Jack and Jerry; a half brother, Arthur; two step daughters, Mary Evelyn Hale and Zelma Keefe; and a nephew, George II.
Ruth is survived by a son, Tommy, and his wife Vicki, (and children Kevin and Allen Coursey) of Baxter Springs; a daughter, Carolyn Mackey, and her husband, Keith, (and their children MSgt Joshua Mackey, Dr. Amber Mackey-Wilson, and Jordan Mackey) of Springdale; a son, Lincoln, and his wife Pam, (and their children, Emily Russell, London Eldridge, Tanner Eldridge, Madison Slater-Eldridge and Jordan Hubbard) of Laquey, Missouri; a very special nephew, Allan Erwin; a special neighbor, Christie Ritter; her brothers Lawrence, and his wife, Mary, of Tulsa, and Alfred and his wife Derla, of Broken Arrow; a sister, Patricia Valencia, and her husband, Estaban, of Tulsa; along with many grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great grandchildren, nieces and nephews, many family and friends.
The family will receive friends from 6-7pm Wednesday, June 22, 2016. Services will be held Thursday, June 23, 2016 at 11:00am in Parker Mortuary Chapel with Pastor Keith Mackey officiating. Contributions can be made to Missions Fund, Blendville Christian Church, 2209 Picher Ave., Joplin MO 64801.
The family wishes to express their deep gratitude to all who so generously and lovingly took care of our dear mom and grandma in these last years.
