Ruth W. Potter

Ruth Woodul Potter passed away Sunday, April 13, 2014, in Dallas, Texas at the age of 97 of natural causes after a long, good, and independent life. She was preceded in death by her loving husband of 52 years, Charles Gaunt Potter, who died May 25, 1998. She is survived by their children - Charles Robert Potter, Dallas, Texas; Joseph Thomas Potter, his wife, Patty and their children Chris and Aaron Lee of Loveland, Colorado; John Edward Potter, Aurora, Colorado; and William Ross Potter, his wife, Caroline, and their children Sr. Airman Charles William Potter and Ashley Renee and her husband, Dustin Shaw, as well as their children Lila Rose and Zella Grace (twins), and Nathaniel Jacobs (Ruth’s great-grandchildren) of Murphy, Texas. Ruth was born in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, March 22, 1917 to Dr. Thomas Whitfield Woodul and Sallie Ann Bean Woodul having two sisters and four brothers, including her twin. Deceased siblings are Marguerite W. Sledge, Mary Catherine W. Vest, Thomas Whitfield Woodul, Jr., John Edgar Woodul, and twin brother, Dr. Joseph Ross Woodul. Ruth is survived by her brother, James William Woodul of Mt. Holly, New Jersey, six nieces and one nephew. She was raised in Pine Bluff, attended University of Arkansas at Monticello, and worked for Commercial Printing & Publishing Co. in Pine Bluff. After marriage to her husband, Charles, they moved to Parsons, Kansas, then Denison, Texas and finally to Dallas in 1950, where she worked for a time for General Electric Co. With four sons, Ruth was active for years in PTA, serving as President at Bryan Adams High School and awarded PTA Life membership. She was Den Mother in Boy Scouts for 17 years, receiving Scouting’s highest award, the Silver Beaver. Ruth was involved as a member and officer in the Forest Hills Neighborhood Association, the community where she and Charles lived most of their married life. Since 1964, Ruth had been extremely active in politics. She served as Precinct Chairman; Election Judge; President, Dallas County Council Republican Women; Member and President, White Rock Republican Women; and District Director, Texas Federation Republican Women. She was the longest serving Republican Precinct Chair in Dallas County, working her last election in March of this year. Her community service included six years, Dallas County Historical Commission; six years, Dallas County Open Space; and President, Dallas Federation Music Clubs. Ruth was an avid camper, traveler, and bird watcher, passions she shared with husband Charles . They camped more than 1500 nights, traveled to all the lower 48 states, drove to Alaska four times, visited all the Canadian Provinces, and four trips to Mexico. They also traveled to South America, Costa Rica, Trinidad, England, Scotland, Wales, and Africa. She was a member of Dallas County Audubon and the American Birding Association. Ruth will be greatly missed by her family, friends, and neighbors. She was a strong, capable, and determined woman, always ready to help those around her. She and Charles spent many hours at White Rock Lake with their binoculars, pursuing their love of bird watching. Donations in memory of Ruth can be made to For the Love of the Lake’s Celebration Tree Grove reforestation program.

(Web link: http://www.whiterocklake.org/index.php/celebration-tree-grove/ctg-faq). .