Ruth Ann Todd

Ruth Ann Todd, 86, of Baytown was born December 23, 1923 in Buffalo, NY and passed away Friday, April 23, 2010 in a local healthcare facility. She was a loving, dedicated and devoted wife and mother who made life easier for everyone around her. She was a mother and companion, first doing every aspect of cleaning, ironing, cooking and shopping and then handling the banking, bookkeeping, budgeting, records and investments as her husband, Francis J. ""Frank"" Todd consistently worked long hours. As her five boys grew older, she added taxi driver to her résumé, transporting them to their endless sports obligations. During their marriage, her husband's executive positions in steelmaking required her reestablishing the family household in fourteen different homes. In the 1970's Ruth applied her skills with the Texas Works Ladies Association. She was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church.

Ruth's first husband of but a year, a flight instructor following WWII, died in an aviation accident near their Virginia home, leaving Ruth with a newborn son, Lawrence. Returning to Buffalo and her former employer, the New York Central Railroad, she married Frank on April 10, 1950.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Francis Pfeiffer and Rose Krause; siblings and their spouses, Father Francis Pfeiffer, a Jesuit priest, Eugene and Margaret Pfeiffer and Virginia and George Hughes; and infant sons, Francis J., Jr. and Kevin Christopher. She is survived by her husband of 60 years, Frank of Baytown; sons and daughters-in-law, Lawrence Stickle and Julie Todd of Willits, CA, Michael E. and Valrie Todd and her children, Cassandra and Clayton Robert Whitehead of Katy; W. Cameron and Maya Susanne Todd of Berea, KY, Patrick A. and Carol Todd of Tyler and Keith F. and Susan Todd of Baytown; grandchildren and their spouses, Justin Todd serving in Afghanistan, Daniel, Carli and Maya Lynn Todd of Berea, KY, Adam and Jody Todd of Plano, Jeffery Todd of Dallas, Kimberly Todd of Tyler and Kay Lynn and John Huntley and Sister Joanne Todd, all of Baytown; and great grandchildren, Samantha, Anthony, Ava Lynn, Kaylee Ann and Olivia Maye; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Her family will receive friends at Navarre Funeral Home Monday, April 26, 2010 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. with a Rosary at 7:00 p.m. A Funeral Mass will be held Tuesday, April 27, 2010 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 1907 Carolina, Baytown, TX 77520 with Rev. Dwight Canizares officiating. Burial will follow at Houston National Cemetery at 12:30 p.m.

Serving as pallbearers will be Lawrence Stickle Todd, W. Cameron Todd, Michael E. Todd, Patrick A. Todd, Keith F. Todd, Adam Todd and Jeffery Todd.

Arrangements are under the direction and personal care of Navarre Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 2444 Rollingbrook Dr., Baytown, TX, 77521 (281) 422-8111.