Obit of Cline, Ruth Whiteman - Cimarron County, Oklahoma Submitted by: Gene Phillips 02 Nov 2008 Return to Cimarron County Archives: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ok/cimarron/cimarron.htm ===================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ===================================================================== ::Willowbar Cemetery--Keyes OK Cline, Ruth Whiteman Ruth Whiteman Cline, 95, went home to join her Heavenly Father for Christmas on Monday, Dec. 19, 2005, in Burleson. Funeral: Following a private celebration of life service for family and friends, interment will be in the Willowbar Cemetery in Keyes, Okla., next to Chester, the father of her children. Memorials: Mrs. Cline's family suggests that her memory be honored by contributions to the Star-Telegram Goodfellow Fund or Johnson County Meals on Wheels. Ruth was born Jan. 8, 1910, to pioneer homesteaders Herbert and Carrie Spradlin in the Panhandle of Oklahoma. Ruth was raised in a Christian home and received Christ at an early age. She was a life-long member of Eastern Star and Order of Rebeccas. Ruth moved to Fort Worth with her husband, Chester Whiteman, and family of four in 1941 from Taos, N.M., where they owned a tourist court. War rationing put pressure on the tourist industry, but created jobs at the Convair plant for both Ruth and Chester. After the war, Ruth hung up her Rosie the Riveter hat and she and Chester opened the Post Office Drug in downtown Fort Worth. Their entrepreneurial spirit saw them buy and sell several other local businesses before Chester's death in 1958. Ruth moved to Hurst in 1961, and sold real estate prior to obtaining her broker's license and forming Ruth's Realty in 1965. Upon retirement, she remained active attending TCJC senior classes and joining a senior dance group that entertained at several senior citizen centers and retirement communities. Ruth moved to Burleson in 1997, where she continued to enjoy her senior years sharing her unique sense of humor and wit with the residents of Huguley Retirement Center and Covenant Place. Ruth's family wishes to thank Vitas Hospice for their loving care during Ruth's final months. Special thanks also to Pancho's for accommodating our family on December 11th, 2005, and each Christmas season for over 35 years. Family and friends are very fortunate to have been a part of Ruth's life, and memories of her will continue to bring joy and inspiration. Ruth was preceded in death by her parents, Herbert and Carrie Spradlin; a brother, Wright Spradlin; a son, Delbert Whiteman; an infant daughter, Shirley Whiteman; and husbands, Chester Whiteman, Homer Ashcraft, and Oren Cline. Survivors: She leaves behind a brother, William Spradlin and wife, Hazel, of Oklahoma City; sons, Ben Whiteman of Kingston, N.M., and Weldon Whiteman and wife, Pam, of Burleson; and a daughter, Dreta "Dee" Cota and husband, Al, of Hewitt; daughters-in-law, Faydra Whiteman and Joy Mercer; and other much-loved in-laws; five stepchildren; 11 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. Published in the Star-Telegram on 12/23/2005. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Return to Cimarron County Archives: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ok/cimarron/cimarron.htm