Ruth Caldwell

Mrs. Ruth Luginbuel, 95 year old well known Vinitan died Monday, March 26 2007 at Craig General Hospital. She had lived for many years in her apartment at the Luginbuel Funeral Home until moving to Heartsworth House and recently to Rosewood Terrace nursing center.

Mrs. Luginbuel was born February 5, 1912 in Vinita. Her parents were Carey and Hazel Putnam Caldwell. Ruth attended the Vinita Public Schools and in 1933 she received a Bachelor of Music degree from Oklahoma College for Women at Chickasha, Oklahoma. She taught one year in the Welch Schools and one year at Longfellow in Vinita before her marriage to Jeff Luginbuel on June 1, 1935.

During World War II and after raising her family, Ruth returned to the teaching profession. She taught at Hall-Halsell in Vinita until her retirement in 1977. It was at this time that she was chosen Craig County Teacher of the Year.

Ruth was a member of the First United Methodist Church and the United Methodist Women. She was the first choir director the Methodist Church ever had and continued in that capacity for twenty years. She also organized the church?s first Cherub and Junior Choirs.

While her children were in school Ruth was active in PTA, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, and was on the Teen Town Board. She was a member of the Delphi Club and a charter member of A.A.U.W..

After retiring from the teaching profession, Ruth became active in civil affairs. She was a member of the Craig County Retired Teachers, the American Cancer Society Board and was the Craig County Service Chairman of that organization, a member of the Child Welfare Board and the Red Feather Board. She was also on the Craig County Economics Program Planning and Advisory Committee. Ruth was director of Mobile Meals and served on their board and has worked with the Community Pantry.

Her largest endeavor was to organize the Senior Citizens Center and serve as the director for many years. In 1979 Ruth was chosen the outstanding Senior Citizen in the N.E.C.O. area. In 1981 she received the Chamber of Commerce award for community leadership and service and in 1983 she received the Diana Award from the Chapters of the E.S.A. Sorority for exceptional service to humanity.

Ruth and Jeff shared the same philosophy in life. They both agreed that helping others is what life is all about.

She was preceded in death by her parents Carey and Hazel Caldwell, her husband Jeff, her daughter June Luginbuel Gatlin and her sister and brother-in-law, Lucille and Tom Ridgeway.

The family of Ruth Luginbuel includes one son: Jeff (Pete) Luginbuel and his wife Trudy of Denver, Colorado. Two grandchildren: Mrs. Jennie Hoop and her husband Bob of Weatherford, Texas and Jeffrey Gatlin of St. Charles, Missouri. One great-granddaughter, Lauren Hoop, of Weatherford, Texas.

Her son-in-law Montie Gatlin and his wife Jackie, of Mansfield, Texas.

She is also survived by nephews: Jim Ridgeway, of Abilene, Texas, Steve Ridgeway of Oklahoma City, Tom Ridgeway of Norman, Oklahoma, Jack Luginbuel of Vinita, and Loyd Wayne Luginbuel of Prairie Grove, Arkansas, and her niece, Janice Sue Hibbard of Prairie Grove, Arkansas, and her great niece Sheila Luginbuel Dills and her husband Joey of Tulsa and her great nephew David Luginbuel and his wife Kathleen of Bartlesville.

The visitation for Mrs. Luginbuel will be at the Chapel of Luginbuel Funeral Home in Vinita on Tuesday and Wednesday from 8 a.m. until 9 p.m. each day.

The funeral services for Mrs. Luginbuel will be Thursday, March 29, 2007 at 2:00 p.m. in the First United Methodist Church of Vinita with Reverend Bob Johns, pastor, officiating. Interment will follow at the Fairview Cemetery of Vinita.

The funeral arrangements are by the Luginbuel Funeral Home of Vinita.