Ruth Adams Howie, 104, of Cedar Park, Texas, was born July 30, 1922, in Cobb Switch, Texas in Kaufman County, and passed away October 12, 2026. She was deeply beloved and cherished, remembered for a faithful spirit and a gentle way of moving through the world—steady, kind-hearted, and quietly generous in the ways that mattered most.
Ruth graduated from Kaufman High school in 1940 and later attended Terrell Business College. During her time in Terrell, Texas, she began her career as a receptionist at Alexander Hospital and was later employed by the #1 British Flying Training School while it was in operation in Terrell. Before leaving Terrell, she also worked for Bob Davy Motors, Buddy Allen Chevrolet, Kelpen's Ice Cream, Tom Snow, Attorney, and Hottinger Real Estate—bringing to each role the same warmth and care that friends and family came to rely on.
In Terrell, Ruth met and married the love of her life, Wade C. Howie, on March 15, 1942, at the First United Methodist Church in Terrell, Texas. In the years that followed, her devotion—to her family, to her community, and to the life she helped build—remained a constant presence and a quiet strength.
Ruth was an avid University of Texas at Austin fan, attending sporting events for volleyball, football, men's and women's basketball, and baseball. She visited all of the Presidential Libraries and belonged to the LBJ FRIENDS. She also loved to travel with her daughters, a joy that carried her to all 50 states and to many countries in South America, Europe, Asia, and Africa—each journey reflecting her open heart and her enduring appreciation for the wider world.
Ruth was preceded in death by her Husband, Wade C. Howie; her Infant daughter, Linda Jean Howie; her father, Clarence Samuel Adams; her mother, Nancy Earline Adams; her sister Nancy Ann Hargrove, and her niece, Dr. Ray Ann Hargrove- Huttel.
Ruth is survived by her twin daughters, Ann Howie, and Jan Howie; her nieces, Gail Hargrove, Debbie Hargrove, Mary Bryan Litwin, Betty Bryan Bailey, Regina Howie Logan, and Cheryl Howie Tillery; and her nephew, Larry Bryan. She is also survived by great nieces and nephews as well as extended family members.
Visitation will be held at Cook-Walden Funeral Home, 6100 North Lamar, Austin, TX 78752, on October 18, 2026, from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm. Funeral Service will be held at Cook-Walden Funeral Home, 6100 North Lamar, Austin, TX 78752, on October 19, 2026, from 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm. Interment will be held at Oakland Memorial Park in Terrell, Texas.
Honorary Pallbearers will be Raul Capetillo, T.J. Dilworth, Doug Duke, Lou Cartwright, Robert Sandoval, and Tom Ausley.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Oakland Memorial Park, 205 West High Street, Terrell, Texas 75160, or to First United Methodist Church of Austin, 1201 Lavaca Street, Austin, Texas 78701 or the charity of your choice.
