Orelle Ruth Warner

Orelle Ruth Warner August 23, 1909 - August 26, 2008 Orelle Ruth Warner of Waco passed away Tuesday, August 26, 2008 at St. Catherine Center. Services will be at 11:30 a.m. Thursday, August 28, at St. Paul's Episcopal Church with the Rev. Brad St. Romain and Rev. Frank Mangum officiating. Burial will follow at Oakwood Cemetery. Visitation will be from 6:00 - 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, August 27, at Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey Garden Room. Miss Warner was born in Iroquois, South Dakota, August 23, 1909, to Delmer R. Warner and Jennie Johnson Warner. She attended schools in Huron, SD, and Temple, Texas. She graduated from Laredo High School Texas at age 15. She moved with her parents to Waco in 1925 to attend Baylor University, where she received her Bachelor of Arts degree, cum laude, at age 18. She taught school in Lorena, Garland, Sonora and Reagan. Ruth received her M.S. in Education in 1951. She was a member of the Waco ISD faculty for 30 years, teaching at Bell's Hill, Sanger, Viking Hills and J.H. Hines. Miss Warner was a pianist and soprano soloist. She received her musical training from private teachers. For many years she was soloist and choir director at St. Paul's Episcopal Church. She was a member of Waco Euterpean Club, past president; Epsilon Chi Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma, past president; American Association of Retired Person and Waco Retired Teachers Association; Baylor Heritage Society; St. Paul's Guild; and was active in all these organization. After her retirement she knitted and crocheted afghans and sweaters. Many of her friends are proud owners of her handiwork. She traveled extensively in her car to Colorado, California, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Ohio and Minnesota, visiting relatives and friends, always accompanied by Bebe or Dolly, her cats, and sometimes a friend. She joined a local health club where she did aerobics and swam daily. Survivors are cousins: Bertha Warner Knittle, Monroe, Washington; Cyndi Knittle Birney, Berrien Springs, Michigan; Janice Heuer, South St. Paul, Minn.; Anna May Vaughan and Olive Blumenshein, Springer, Okla; and others. Also many dear friends who were her family: J'Ann and Bill Aman, Fay M. McClintock, Faye Smitherman, Taddie and Tony Kelly, Jeanne Thompson, Anne Marie Mullins of Irving, Harry and Kit Thompson of Edmond, Okla; Rollin and Loraine Khoury, Mary and Ronald Blair of Hamilton, members of Euterpean Club, her sisters in Epsilon Chi of Delta Kappa Gamma, the dear ladies of St. Paul's Guild and her beloved cat, Little Bit. Pallbearers are former sixth grade students. Memorials may be made to Waco Euterpean Club, Epsilon Chi or St. Paul's Episcopal Church. The family and friends invite you to leave a message or memory in our "Memorial Guestbook" at www.wilkirsonhatchbailey.com.