Lady Ruth Johnstone

Lady Ruth Johnstone, age 96, passed away peacefully on January 21, 2015, from congestive heart failure. She had been a resident of The Bentley Retirement Community in Dallas, Texas, for the past four years, where she lived near her younger daughter, Ruth Ann. Previously she was a resident of the Rio Norte Retirement Community in El Paso for 10 years sharing life with many dear friends. Lady Ruth was predeceased by her loving husband John Hick Johnstone. The couple had been married for 70 years.

She was born in Dixon, Kentucky to parents Bassell Lorene and Dewey Basil Marks. She spent her childhood in Eldorado, Illinois, where she graduated as valedictorian from Eldorado Township High School. She went on to graduate from Burnham School of Beauty Culture in Chicago, Illinois.

She met and fell in love with the new young doctor in town who had just established his first medical practice. She married Dr. John Hick Johnstone, MD, on May 9, 1940 in Eldorado, Illinois. She was the unconditionally loving and supportive wife of the dedicated physician. Lady Ruth and her dear husband John moved to the small town of Ysleta, Texas, a suburb of El Paso, Texas, in 1947. Prior to that, the couple had also lived briefly in Silver City, New Mexico, where she became acquainted with lifelong friends.

Lady Ruth was a lady of grace, dignity, and selflessness who “enjoyed bringing happiness to others.” She was a devoted mother to her two adoring daughters, Rita Jean and Ruth Ann, and she was actively involved in their school activities where she was president of the PTA and was named Tri-Hi-Y Mother of the Year in 1963. She was also the adoptive mother of Zeynep Barlas, a foreign exchange student from Bursa, Turkey, who now resides in Istanbul, Turkey with her husband Yilmaz Turkei. Lady Ruth and Zeynep were separated by an ocean, but they continued their connection and were reunited in Dallas, Texas in 2013.

Lady Ruth was altruistic and a true humanitarian, as evidenced by her affiliations which included the Ladies’ Auxiliary of the El Paso Medical Society, Charter Member of the El Minya Court: Ladies Oriental Shrine, Past President and Lifetime Member of Kappa Phi Chapter of Beta Sigma Phi Sorority, Ysleta Chapter of the Eastern Star, and the Ysleta Women’s Club where she held numerous offices and participated on various committees, and she loved those ladies’ teas! She spent countless hours volunteering her talents and services in order to improve the lives of others.

One of her passions was entertaining family and friends, and she maintained a lovely, comfortable home that was always a center of activity. No one was a stranger, as Lady Ruth welcomed all with her warm, friendly personality and radiant smile. Lady Ruth also enjoyed china painting, and many of her creations are still coveted by family members.

She is survived by her daughters Rita Jean and husband Eddie Groce of Aberdeen, Washington, and Ruth Ann Johnstone and husband David Gibson of Dallas, Texas. She has three grandchildren, Marian Bronson and husband Phil Bronson of Montesano, Washington; Theresa Wright and husband Jonathan Wright of Little Elm, Texas; Lt. Colonel Stephanie Kelley, currently serving in Seoul, South Korea and husband Greg Kelley; three great grandchildren: Heather Gibson, Jonathon Gibson and Jack Kelley; and two nieces, Edith Ann Mueth of Mascoutah, Illinois and Bernadine Darling of Hilton Head, South Carolina. She also included the children of David Gibson as part of her family: Keelee Page, Scotty Gibson, and Bryan Gibson.

Lady Ruth Johnstone will forever be remembered by her loving family and friends. Her legacy of beauty, elegance, refinement, and devotion to others will live on in us forever. The family is very grateful for the many friends who brought her great joy during her stay at the Bentley and the loving care that was provided by Gloria Santiago.