Ruth J. Stevens Booker, 85, of Denton, went to be with her Lord and Savior on Saturday, December 22, 2012. She passed away peacefully at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital. She was born October 25, 1927 in Decatur, Alabama to William Frederick Howell and Mittie (Thomlinson) Jennings. She attended Birmingham Southern College receiving her bachelor's degree in 1949, then received her Master's in Guidance and Counseling from Texas Woman's University in 1975 and finally received a Master's of Religious Education from Southwestern Baptist Seminary in 1979. Ruth was a member of Denton Bible Church and Christian counselor there for many years. She also led a widows' bible study group in her home being twice widowed herself. Ruth loved the Lord and her life certainly reflected that love. In her college years she sang on radio as a part time job. She took up painting after 50 and became quite the artist enjoying capturing landscapes and portraits. She was married to Thomas Huey Stevens on December 17, 1949 in Birmingham, AL. Tom died in 1958. Ruth then married Ted W. Booker on August 25, 1965 in Dallas. Ted died in 1971.
Mrs. Booker is survived by a daughter, Sue D. Castles and husband Stan of Lubbock; a son, Thomas H. (Steve) Stevens, Jr. and wife Martha of Denton; a step-daughter, Sara E. Christensen of Florida; five sisters, Evelyn Pettey of Houston, Dorothy Fournier of Flowery Branch, GA, Joy Thompson of Birmingham, AL, Jeanne Odum of Houston, and Mary Robshaw of Bossier City, LA; five grandchildren, Joshua, Haley, Graham, Brooke, Gehrig and his wife Gracie; and four great-grandchildren.
A visitation will be held from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM Wednesday, December 26 at the funeral home. A funeral service will be held at 10:00 AM Thursday, December 27, 2012 in the chapel of Mulkey-Mason, Jack Schmitz and Son Funeral Home, 705 N. Locust, Denton, with Tommy Nelson, officiating. Burial will follow at 12:30 PM at Hillcrest Memorial Park in Dallas. In lieu of flowers Memorials may be made to Denton Bible Church Counseling Ministries.
Online condolences may be left at www.mulkeymasondenton.com