Ruth M. Pharis

Ruth McCalister Pharis went to be with the Lord on March 10, 2025. Ruth was born in San Diego, California on February 13, 1934 to William Lamar McCalister and Mary Elizabeth Beuk. Her father was a Navy Pilot so the family was transferred around the country numerous times. Ruth attended 9 different elementary and junior high schools. She started high school in Memphis, Tennessee, moved to Corpus Christi, Texas in the last half of her freshman year and graduated at Alameda, California. Ruth was an outgoing person who met people easily. She met her husband Edwin when she was a freshman at Flour Bluff High School in Corpus Christi. She married Edwin Pharis on March 14, 1953 in Corpus Christi. Teresa Beth was born in Falfurrias, Texas. Tracey Lee and Edwin Todd Pharis were born in Corpus Christi Texas.

Ruth was a volunteer with Sunshine’s at their church in Corpus Christi and worked in vacation bible schools. She worked with young girls in the Rainbow Girl’s organization as their Mother Advisor, serving with 9 girls including her daughter.

Ruth worked for the Frost Bank organization for 22 years in Corpus Christi and later transferred to the Cullen Bank in Houston. She was the Senior Vice President and Director of Human Resources. She retired after 34 years with the Frost Bank Organization. She was active in the prayer ministry at Champions Forest Baptist Church in Houston. She and Edwin retired to their home on the Guadalupe River in 1990. She immediately got involved with the New Braunfels Republican Women’s Club and help many positions. She served as President for 2 terms. She has been on the NBRW board for over 20 years. She served as Vice Chairman of the Republican Party of Comal County. She and Edwin performed with the Red Stocking Review held for charity benefit of the Comal County Community Center. Ruth was called to go back to work at the Scooter Store as their Personnel Director and she worked for that organization for 3 years. She took an active part at Oakwood Baptist Church and later moved to First Baptist where she has been active in the Senior Adult Ministry, Senior Choir, Ensemble and Puppet Ministry. Ruth organized the Hill Country Tea Party Patriots and helped to put on rallies and seminars for conservative minded people in our area from March 2009 to September 2014 when she was elected to serve as Chairman of the Republican Party of Comal County.

She is survived by her husband Edwin of 72 years, her daughter Beth Brimer and her son, Todd Pharis; four grandchildren, Brandon Chase Pharis, Marshall Colton Pharis, Tucker Edwin Pharis, and Shelby Beth Pharis; and brother Bill McCalister (wife Jill) of San Antonio, and nieces and nephews.

Ruth was preceded in death by her parents, William L and Mary Elizabeth McCalister, her brother Charles Thomas McCalister, her son Tracey Lee Pharis and his wife, Sherilyn, and her son-in-law James D. Brimer.

Services for Ruth will be Thursday, March 20, 2025 at Zoeller Funeral Home, 615 Landa Street, New Braunfels Texas 78130. Please join us for Visitation and a reception from 12:00 noon to 1:00, with service beginning at 1:00 pm