Ruth Barlow

Ruth Irene Stephenson Barlow was born September 11, 1926, in Wellington, KS, to Mattie (Childers) and George Stephenson. After graduation from Wellington High School she went to work for Santa Fe Railroad in Wellington. She transferred to the Santa Fe Railroad office in Amarillo, Texas after a few years, where she met her future husband, Joe (Robert Joel) Barlow. They were married in Amarillo on August 15, 1948.

Ruth and Joe have two daughters, Carlene Bryant of Quinter, KS, and Carolyn Taylor of Houston, TX. The family lived in Amarillo until 1961, when Joe was transferred to Houston. After they both retired they moved to Hilltop Lakes, Texas where they lived until 2002. They moved to Lufkin in 2002, living at Pinecrest. Mr. Barlow still resides at Pinecrest.

Ruth was a homemaker and stay-at-home mom for several years in Houston, working at a few different jobs during her years there. She was a Girl Scout leader while Carlene was in Girl Scouts for ten years. After the girls both left home to attend college Ruth needed something to do so she enrolled in cosmetology school and received her beautician's license.

Ruth enjoyed several hobbies through the years. She tended a room full of African violets and other plants for several years in Houston. Later she got interested in collecting dolls and joined a Madame Alexander Doll Club. She amassed numerous Alexander dolls after displaying and winning ribbons at various doll and toy shows.

She and Joe spent many hours together working on their family genealogies. They traveled the states looking for graves of deceased relatives and meeting with living relatives to exchange information discovered. They visited numerous libraries to research census records, including going to the Salt Lake City, Utah Library. While doing genealogy, she became a member of DAR through her ancestors.

Ruth is survived by her husband, Joe, and daughters, Carlene and Carolyn. She had four grandchildren, Adam Bryant and wife, Marlyn, of Stockton, KS; Aaron Bryant, also of Stockton, KS; Christy Taylor, of Galveston, TX; and Daryl Taylor, and wife, Jennifer, of Houston, TX. The Barlow's also have six great-grandchildren: Angeline, Alyssa, and Sierra Bryant, of Hays, KS, daughters of Aaron; Morgan and Aricka Bryant of Colby, KS, daughters of Adam; and Dylan of Houston, son of Daryl and Jennifer Taylor. She is also survived by four sisters-in-law, a brother-in-law, several nephews and nieces, and numerous friends.

Ruth was preceded in death by her parents, Mattie and George, two sisters, Clara and Mary, and a brother Newton.

Memorial Services will be held on Monday, April 16, 2012 at 1:00 P.M. in the chapel at Pinecrest Retirement Center. Following a short reception after the memorial service, a private graveside committal service will be conducted in the Garden of Memories Memorial Park.

Services have been placed in the trust of Gipson Funeral Home.