Ruth Janet Johnson was born on January 17, 1934, in Bay Arkansas. Her parents were Jim and Irene King. Ruth was preceded in death by Bill, her husband of 68 years, and by her sisters, Frances Wilkerson, Louise Ford, Rosalee King and brother Tommy King.
Ruth married Bill Johnson on April 17, 1953, and enjoyed 68 years of marriage. Bill and Ruth had three sons: Jim Johnson of Crandall, Texas, Keith Johnson and wife Stacey of Crandall, Texas, and Kevin Johnson and wife Julie also of Crandall, Texas. Ruth loved and adored her four grandchildren: Brad Johnson and wife Kelli of Forney, Texas, Sydney Johnson of Dallas, Texas, Matthew Johnson of McKinney, Texas, and Nathan Johnson of Crandall, Texas. Ruth became a Great-Grandma on August 30, 2018, with the birth of her great-grandson Callaway Johnson, and for a second time with great-granddaughter, Beckett Kate Johnson on May 3, 2021.
Ruth attended West Memphis High School in West Memphis, Arkansas, where she was a guard and high scorer for her championship high school basketball team, graduating in 1953. Ruth and Bill married in April of 1953, in a private service when they eloped on prom night. They subsequently returned to each of their homes for several days before informing their parents of their marriage. After marrying and before high school graduation, Bill joined the Army, and Ruth remained in Arkansas and was the bookkeeper for First Convenience Store.
After Bill’s discharge from the Army in December 1963, Bill and Ruth settled in Mesquite, Texas, where they raised their three sons, and they attended Mimosa Lane Baptist Church for almost 30 years. During this time Ruth had various part-time jobs including MLBC Mother’s Day out Director, and Secretary at Rollingwood Hills Baptist Church. During this time her main job was homemaker and housewife.
During her time at Mimosa Lane, Ruth was involved in GA’s, youth camp, youth choir tours, Vacation Bible School Director, and church clerk along with many other roles.
In May of 1990, Bill and Ruth moved to Crandall, Texas, and joined Central Baptist Church. Bill retired from Southwestern Bell in 1992, and Bill and Ruth enjoyed over 30 years of retirement together. They purchased their first of many motorhomes and he and Ruth traveled the United States hitting all of the lower 48.
Ruth enjoyed reading, receiving first place for her prized coconut pie at church, playing card and dice games, especially her Thursday afternoon Wahoo game with Callaway, and her Phase Ten card game with her ladies’ group.
The most important events in Ruth’s life was when she was led to the Lord in 1946 by Brother Mac McKay at the age of 12 years old, and she went home to be with the Lord on July 13, 2024.
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