Ruth Naomi Shoemaker

Her date of birth was January 15, 1912. She led a very full life including her childhood in Duxberry, MA where as a child she loved to work in the cranberry bogs with her father. As a student she was an avid learner, graduating from high school at the age of 16, Ruth left home by herself taking the boat, then train to Florida, Stetson University and graduated in 1932 with a B.S. in Mathematics. She left Florida and arrived in California to attend a bible school for a year. She went back to Stetson for a master degree in math. At Stetson she met her to be husband Charles Hilton Shoemaker and they married in 1935.

Ruth had many interests including teaching Sunday school classes until the age of 96. She also lived in many different areas such as Baltimore, Maryland: Buffalo, New York; Dallas Texas; Lubbock, Texas’ Jacksonville, Florida; Orlando, Florida; and Mountainburg, Arkansas; Ruth lived in Lubbock from 1946 until 1961. She became involved in Girl Scouts as a leader of the troop her youngest daughter was in; later she became president of the Girl Scout council. She was also in two garden clubs for many years. She reached to the level of judge for flower shows.

Ruth and her husband moved to Florida in 1961 where she taught high school math for 16 years. Her husband had a Bonanza aircraft that he was flying and Ruth signed up for lessons (encouraged by her husband.) Ruth was 51 when she learned to fly, typical of her approach to learning

She went on to get her instrument rating and started teaching ground school at Kisseminee Airport. She continued flying until 1979 at the age of 67, when she moved to Arkansas.

She loved her home in Arkansas on top of Cartwright Mountain. She enjoyed her past friends staying there and visiting. She continued making new friends and attending valley Tabernacle Church in Winfrey Arkansas. Christmas letters Ruth sent out every year to friends all over the USA!

In 1976 when she lost her husband she started a new interest- camping in New Mexico with her older daughter and family. It wasn’t but a few years before she was “backpacking” in the Pecos Wilderness. Her backpacking continued with an extended family group (usually 10 people) until she was 78 and had to have hip surgery, she educated the group on flowers, birds, plants while walking around 20 to 25 miles in 7 days.

Ruth moved back to Lubbock in 2008 after ending up in the ER in Arkansas. Her son Charles and wife drove her to Lubbock so that Beverly could nurse her back to health. A special thanks to Jeff Morgan and Bruce for checking on her and calling 911 and letting family know. She was up and about walking with her walker in 2-3 weeks. She loved outside and walking and meeting more neighbors who couldn’t believe her age. She was happy until health failed her in December 2012.

Ruth was preceded in death by her parents Ernest Wallace Osgood and Wife Marion Willouby-Brokenbough-Lemosy-Osgood, and her siblings; half brother frank Lemosy, brother Boyer Osgood, Sister Martha Osgood-Rodgers.

Ruth is survived by her children Charles Ellis Shoemaker of Montna and Beverly Cole both of Lubbock, Robert Shoemaker of Houston, Texas, Laverne Wiginton of Springbranch, Texas. 6 grandchildren Stephen Charles Cole, William D. Cole, Kathryn Marie Cole, Lee Favreau Guerin, Micah Shoemaker, Rebecca Shoemaker, and Great-Grandchildren are Kenneth Cole, Ryan Cole, and Nikolas Cole, Martin Cole, Shay Guerin, Julianne Guerin and Alex Guerin. Funeral Services are at Resthaven’s Abbey Chapel on Thursday January 10, 2013 at 1pm, Visitation will be from 12-1 prior to the service.

Ruth will be laid to rest in Daytona, Florida Cedar Hill Cemetery.

Condolences may be offered at www.resthavenfuneralhome.com