Mary Louise Ruth

Mary Louise Ruth was born on November 8, 1933, in Victoria, Texas. She was the first child of Lillie Pargac Gripp and Edwin Gripp. She was later joined by her beloved younger brothers, Eddie, Jimmy, and Rolla. She was truly remarkable with an unwavering faith in God, strength of character and full of love for her family, friends and hometown. She had a warmth and sweetness that made people feel loved, an ability to remember and treasure the details of those she cared about, and a gift for making everyone around her feel that they mattered. She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, aunt, cousin, and friend—and to those who knew and loved her, she was simply irreplaceable.

She lived in Victoria nearly her entire life, except for a brief time in Green Lake when her mother served as postmistress and her father worked for the railroad. In 1941 the family returned to Victoria after the Matagorda Hurricane destroyed virtually everything they had. That experience with the loss of her father when she was only thirteen, helped shape the strength and resilience that would become a defining part of her character.

She worked in her grandfather A. V. Pargac's cotton gins helping weigh the cotton. She learned to drive at an early age so she could help care for her younger brothers when her father became ill. She loved telling the story whenever someone dared to question her driving skills. She also worked at the Dacosta Dance Hall owned by grandparents Edwin and Ida Matilda Mueller Gripp.

She loved to dance and square dance with her friends in a group they called “The Four Mary’s”- Mary Louise, Mary Margaret Hornburg, Mary Dolores “Cookie” Reuter Tisdale, and one of her lifelong best friends, Dr. Mary Rea Finehout. Among her favorite memories were performing with her friends at Round Up in Austin and representing Nazareth Academy at the Patti Welder Formal Ball. She loved designing and making her own beautiful dresses for dances along with a lifelong love of fashion, painting, and art.

Mary Louise graduated from Nazareth Academy in 1952 and attended Victoria College, where she participated in the college's drum and bugle corps. Nazareth Academy remained especially dear to her throughout her life. After college, Mary Louise worked for several years at First Victoria National Bank. A college friend introduced her to a mutual friend, Roger F. Ruth, an engineer working at the Seadrift plant. They fell in love and were married by Monsignor Beck at St. Mary's Catholic Church on June 4, 1955.

Their marriage was a testament to love, faith, family, and friendship. For 64 years, Mary Louise and Roger built a life together filled with devotion, laughter, faith, and memories. Their love for one another was a constant and enduring example to everyone around them.

Their greatest joy was their family. Adventures and happy times with Nanna and Poppy were always anticipated. Mary Louise treasured every moment with her family and remained deeply interested in the lives of those she loved. She was the person who checked in, remembered details, stayed connected, and made sure no one ever felt forgotten.

Her faith was the foundation of everything she was. Mary Louise loved God with her whole heart and had an unwavering devotion to her beloved Catholic faith. Her belief in God and the power of prayer never wavered. Her faith gave her strength and courage that carried her through adversity. She truly lived her faith.

For more than 30 years, Mary Louise faithfully prayed on Fridays at St. Mary's Blessed Sacrament with her dear friend Sylvia Rodriguez. She was a longtime member of the St. Mary's Altar Society and was proud of the stained-glass round window depicting Our Lady of Guadalupe, donated by her grandparents A. V. and Louisa Blaschke Pargac, which remains at St. Mary's today. She was also a longtime member of Our Lady of Victory Church.

Mary Louise was a member of the original group of Associates of the Incarnate Word from the time the organization was formed. She treasured being an associate and the opportunity to learn and grow in her faith. She was a member of the Catholic Daughters of the Americas for more than thirty years.

She was an angel on earth, and we were blessed to have her in our lives. While our hearts are shattered, we find comfort in knowing that Mary Louise and Roger are together again. Mary Louise was preceded in death by her parents, Lillie Pargac Gripp and Edwin Gripp; her beloved husband, Roger F. Ruth; and her three brothers, Edwin H. Gripp, James E. Gripp, and Rolla Don Gripp.

She is survived by her daughter, Valerie Ruth New of Fort Worth; granddaughter Brooke Reeb and her husband, Robby Reeb, of Fort Worth; grandson Cameron New and his wife, Ally New, of Conifer, Colorado; and her three great-grandchildren, Charlotte, Robert (RJ), and Colton. She is also survived by sisters-in-law Mrs. Dolores Gripp of Fort Stockton and Mrs. Melva Gripp of Yoakum, as well as numerous nieces, nephews, extended family members, and dear friends.

The family extends its deepest gratitude to the many caregivers who lovingly cared for Mary Louise and helped make it possible for her to feel safe and remain happy and comfortable in her beloved home and hometown, where she could watch the deer each day. Emma Lee Hill and Stacie Covert McMann provided exceptional care to both Mary Louise and Roger, along with Victoria, Azaria, Andrea, Sabrina, Kristen, and the many other wonderful caregivers from Home Instead who cared for them over the years.

A very special and heartfelt thank-you goes to our beloved family friend, Ernest Rydolph, who kept watch over both Aunt Ruth and Roger every day and shared more than 30 years of friendship, cowboy movies, football games, laughter, and companionship with them. You will always hold a very special place in our hearts, just as you did in theirs.

Mary Louise's life was a gift. Her faith, love, strength, laughter and unwavering devotion to the people she cherished will live on.

Donations may be made to St. Mary's Catholic Church or Nazareth Academy.

Please wear pink, color or a touch of pink in honor of Mary Louise.

Visitation will be held on Tuesday, October 6, 2026 at 9am, with rosary beginning at 9:30am and funeral mass following at 10am at St. Mary's Catholic Church. Burial will be held at Memorial Park Cemetery with a reception following at St. Mary’s Hall.

Thoughts and memories may be shared at www.colonialfuneralhomevictoria.com.