Ruth Clifton Mathews

Ruth “Baba” Clifton Mathews, 83, was born on January 14, 1924, in Dallas, Texas and died on Friday, August 10, 2007. Her life was filled with fantastic adventures with her beloved husband Clinton A. “Bud” Mathews beginning with their marriage in San Antonio on December 5, 1945. Their travels to Hollywood and around the western United States with Abbott and Costello defined the first part of their union before they settled in Austin to begin their family. Ruth spent more than 40 years as an accountant for Aus-Tex Printing & Mailing. During that time, she took a sabbatical to work on the LBJ History Project in Washington, D.C. Her lifelong love of the University of Texas had her Hookin’ her Horns until the end. She is survived by her daughters Donna Walker and Diane Swinney; grandchildren Michael Wortham and spouse Kelly, Stacy Smith and spouse Greg, Michelle Dittrick and spouse Rod, and Matt Swinney and spouse Kara; great-grandchildren Katelyn, Mason and Gracie Smith, Sadie Swinney, and Steven and Daegan Lifsey; brothers Shaw Clifton and Wilmer “Buddy” Clifton. She was preceded in death by her husband of 44 years, mother Willie Mae Clifton Duke and stepfather Jacob Eli Clifton. She was also preceded in death by her beloved pets Friday, Moe, Pepper and Nike. The family would like to thank Lana Massey and Claudia Silva for their devoted care giving and support during Ruth’s greatest time of need. Services will be held at 3:30 p.m., Monday, August 13, 2007 at Weed-Corley-Fish Funeral Home. Burial to follow at Capital Parks Memorial Gardens. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her name to the Town Lake Animal Shelter. Obituary and guestbook online at wcfish.com