Ruth Ann Steele

Ruth Ann Steele, aged 89, passed from this life to continue her next ‘travel’ destination to be with her Lord and Savior on September 17, 2020, in Birmingham, AL. Ruth Ann was born on July 8, 1931 to Ruth Dillon Null and Elliot Michael Null in Houston, TX. Her other childhood hometowns included Kosse and Ennis, TX. She graduated from of Lamar HS in Houston, and later attended Sam Houston State College, where she was a member of the local sorority, later to become Zeta Tau Alpha.

After moving to Birmingham, Ruth Ann fell for the dashing Robert Doddridge (Bob) Steele and married on July 27th, 1959. Bob passed away at the early age of 50 in 1972. Undaunted, Ruth Ann carried on and raised two boys as a working single mom thereon after. She had three primary passions in her life: her sons, her Christian faith, and making people happy through amazingly designed travel. She started her travel career in 1955 with Brownell Travel Agency, where she found her calling; traveling to far-flung exotic places, learning about them, then enticing clients to go see for themselves. With the births of her sons, she took a short break from her career. Her first son, Robert Dodd, was born in June 1963, and John Taylor followed in June 1966.

Ruth Ann resumed her travel career in 1970, first back with Brownell, where she became Mr. Brownell’s personal administrative assistant. In the late 1970s, the single mom took a great risk and opened her own Travel Agency – Journiway Travel, and later the successful Travel Designers.

Ruth Ann was a devoted and active member of First Christian Church on Valley Dale Road, Birmingham, which became her beacon of peace and salvation thru her Christian fellowship community. In addition to her husband Bob, both of Ruth Ann’s parents predeceased her, as did her older brother, Raywood Null, and her close cousins Ruth and Pat.

Survivors include her two sons, Robert Dodd with his wife Nok and grandson John-Marley, all who live in Chiang Mai, Thailand, and John Taylor and his partner, Jana White and her children of Birmingham. Other survivors include her nieces from Bob’s younger brother Jimmy- Danette Jones and Cindy Barnett and their families of MS; the Cooper family children from Bob’s younger sister Kay – Tom, Karen, David and Diane and their families of AL; Others included her first cousins Dianne and Carol Sue, and special non-blood family members, Walter and Sharon Lloyd of TX. Her surviving friends are many, including college friends, Derby Downs neighbors, church members, co-workers and client friends, all too many to name. Ruth Ann’s sudden passing leaves a huge void in the lives of all who were blessed to know her. However, she leaves a legacy of love, kindness, generosity and service to God and humankind that will continue.

A service will be held at Elmwood Chapel Wed 9/23. Visitation at 9am, Service at 10am. Private graveside service after memorial. Donations can be made in the name of Ruth Ann to Compass Education.