Ellen Ruth Ham

Ellen Ruth Ham passed away Tuesday, April 6, 2010, in Lubbock at the age of 76. Funeral services will be held Saturday, April 10, at 2 p.m. at the Sunset Church of Christ with James Withrow and Wayne Swart, both of the Sudan Church of Christ and lifelong friends officiating. Burial will follow at Resthaven Memorial Park, under the direction of Resthaven Funeral Home.

Ruth was born June 10, 1933, in Plainview, TX to the late John and Jewel Hood. She married her high school sweetheart, Don Ray Ham on June 7, 1954 in Tulia, TX. They were married for 49 wonderful years before he passed away in 2003. They lived and worked in Sudan, TX for 16 years where they were members of the Sudan Church of Christ. After living in Dalhart for a time, the couple retired in Lubbock in 1985.

Ruth was best known for her constant smile; delight in her children and grandchildren, and the playful pranks she played on friends and family. As she raised her family, she was a foster mother for many years, a 4-H leader, a cake decorator, (she made wedding cakes for all four of her children), and she made clothes for her children and their dolls, and was a Sunday School Teacher. She loved being a member of the Sunset Church of Christ and spending time with family and friends at her cabin at Blue Haven, near Las Vegas, N.M.

She was preceded in death by four brothers and two sisters.

Survivors include her sister Ona Beth Hood of Lubbock; 4 children and their spouses, Tim and Connie Harrington, Gary and Donna Ham, Ray and Cathy Box, and Russell and Cindy Gustin; 11 grandchildren and their spouses, Sean and Margarita Harrington, Brian and Nawatha Harrington, Natalie, Abigail, Bethany, and Clarisa Ham, Matt and Sarah Descamps, Kristin and Nikki Box, Steve and Jennifer Gustin, and David and Mandi Gustin; and 5 great-grandchildren, Tim, Mary, and Jenny Harrington, Haven Harrington, and Hagin Gustin.

She will be missed.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Sunset International Bible Institute.