Obit of Persson, Ruth Evalyn Burbage - Delaware County, Oklahoma

Submitted by:  Shelly Lynch  <leeshlynch@gmail.com>   03 Feb 2008
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PERSSON - Ruth Evalyn Burbage, retired Child Welfare administrator, 
died Friday, October 12, 2007 in Tahlequah, OK. She was born August 
31, 1922 to Charles A. and Stella Jordan Burbage in Colcord, Delaware 
County, OK. She was a graduate of Tahlequah High School, Northeastern 
State University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology and 
obtained a Master of Social Work degree from the University of 
Oklahoma. Her career began in 1947 with the Oklahoma State Department 
of Public Welfare. She served in various positions in Cherokee, 
Wagoner and Tulsa Counties. She directed the Children's Protective 
Services Program in Tulsa County and was involved in developing the 
Central Child Abuse Registry, the first program of its kind in 
Oklahoma. Ruth was responsible for initiating the first two group 
homes in Tulsa for adolescents and was instrumental in organizing the 
Tulsa County Foster Parents Association, one of the first in the U. 
S. in 1971. She was a member of the Oil Capital Chapter of the 
American Association of Business Women and participated in 
establishing the Green Country Chapter. An alumna of Sigma Sigma 
Sigma sorority, she remained active within the group, which honored 
her in 1989 with the Emily Gates Achievement Award at its national 
convention. She also won the Golden Violet Award for 50 years of 
service in 1990. As a member of St John's Episcopal Church in Tulsa, 
she delivered Meals on Wheels for 13 years and served in the Altar 
Guild. She remained involved in the NSU Alumni Association and served 
a three year term on its board of directors and in 1994, she received 
the Citation of Merit Award. Ruth relocated to Memphis in 2003 where 
she resided at Carriage Court Assisted Living until May of 2007 when 
she returned to Tahlequah. She was predeceased by: her husband, Frank 
Persson; her sister, Mary Binns; her brothers, Arthur Burbage, Norton 
Burbage and Edward Burbage; her stepson, Marshall Persson; and her 
son-in-law, William Clanton. She is survived by: her son, Charles 
Wilson, his wife, Kim and their sons, Chase and Trent; and by her 
daughter, Sharon Wilson Clanton and her son, David Levy. She also 
leaves her nieces, Billye Akin, Mary Townsend, Anne Vermote, Mary 
Ruth Thomas; and her nephews, John Burbage and Craig Burbage. In 
addition, she leaves her sisters-in-law, Helen Burbage and Katherine 
Burbage. A Memorial service will be held 10:30 a.m., Saturday, 
October 20, 2007 at First United Methodist Church in Tahlequah where 
she was a member when she resided there. Memorials may be made to the 
Tulsa Advocate for the Protection of Children or to the NSU Alumni 
Association.

Published in the Tulsa World on 10/17/2007.
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