Dorris Christine Rueter

Dorris Christine Rueter August 12, 1922 September 14, 2014 Dorris Rueter, of Robinson, passed from this life September 14, 2014. Her service is 10:30 a.m., Thursday, September 18, at St. John United Church of Christ in Robinson with the Rev. Scott Spence officiating. Interment will follow in Robinson Cemetery. Dorris was born August 12, 1922, in Robinson, Texas, to the late Herman and Jessie Hutchinson Rueter. Her childhood was spent in a simple life of hard work and country play: fried chicken every Sunday after church, and home-made ice cream during the summer. Her family raised their own chickens, pigs, cows, and used horses to work the farm. They gardened, butchered a hog almost every fall as soon as a hard norther hit, canned peaches, corn, peas, beans, pears, and whatever else her mother could get, so that there was always good eating, though not much money. Her father could do almost anything to earn a little extra, and if Dorris were desperate, she could go out to the corn crib and shell a gunny sack full of corn, which her dad would sell in town. The Waco Theatre had a Saturday kid's matinee, which she could attend for one dime or for 10 Jones Fine Bread wrappers. It took a long time for a small family to eat 10 loaves of bread. Dorris attended Robinson Elementary School for the first years of grade school, transferring to Rosenthal School in the fourth grade, and graduating from Waco Senior High School in 1940. Deciding that she wanted work experience, she went to Four-C Business College for a season, then to San Antonio to work for the 8th Service Command. A few months later, when 8th Headquarters moved to Dallas, she went also, riding the bus from her home to the downtown Dallas area where Hq. 8th Service Command was located. For visits with her parents, she rode the Interurban home for the weekend. Toward the end of her 4th year with Hq. 8th Service Command the war was over, she changed jobs and was working with the Army Exchange Service when a good friend talked her into going to Japan as an Army Special Services hostess. That was the beginning of her gallivanting about the world. She and her friend left Dallas by train for Seattle, then spent two weeks on a Liberty Ship to Japan. There were a raft of Army Special Services Hostesses and many dependents and children on board. Some stayed in Tokyo, some in Yokohama, still others in Kyoto, and, finally, Dorris landed in Nara. She'd had a grand tour all the way and loved it. She loved the country, the people, and being around the military. She made friendships that lasted many, many years. From there she was stationed in Washington, D.C., spent five years in Turkey, back to Washington, had a stint in Korea, Washington, and, finally, Pennsylvania. She had developed a specialty for ADP systems analysis and design during her time in Army Research and Development, and her transfer to Pennsylvania enabled her to find out how her systems actually worked in the field. During the course of her career, she took numerous specialty courses, and some night college courses. She enjoyed reading, always had a camera or two and took thousands of pictures during her travels. She also collected "things," that she began downsizing in 1997. As opportunities arose, she traveled with vacations in the Holy Land, including Jerusalem, Damascus, and Cairo; the Greek Islands and Athens, Italy, Germany, France, England, Scandinavia, the Far East including Japan, Thailand, and Hong Kong, China and again Hong Kong. Those trips frequently included stop-overs in the USA and Canada. Retiring October 1, 1977, she returned to Texas to live. Her mother was gone by then, and she felt that her father would need someone nearby. She joined his church, St. John United, where she became active, serving on the Council, in the Women's Guild, on the Historical Committee, and in the Tender Loving Quilters. A life well lived! She was preceded in death by her parents, Herman W. and Jessie Hutchinson Rueter, and her brother, Robert Rueter. Dorris is survived by her sister-in-law, Joyce Rueter Mathias of Arizona; her niece, Leah Bell of California, nieces and nephew of California; and numerous cousins. The family invites you to leave a message or memory in our "Memorial Guestbook" at www.WHBfamily.com.