Ruth M. Belew

Ruth M. Belew July 31, 1921 - December 31, 2014 Ruth M. Belew of McGregor passed away Wednesday, December 31, 2014. Her memorial service will be 10:00 a.m., Saturday, January 3, 2015, at Seventh and James Baptist Church with the Rev. Erin Conaway officiating. Ruth was born July 31, 1921, in Waco, Texas, to James and Edith McAtee, Sr. During her lifetime she was a resident of Austin, Texas, as a student at the University of Texas, New York City as a member of the Humphrey Weidman dance group, Wichita, Kansas, as a faculty member of Wichita State University 1944-1947, and Madison, Wisconsin, as a graduate student earning her master's degree in dance. She was a member of the University of Wisconsin faculty from 1949 to 1951. Following the family's move to Providence, Rhode Island, her first child, Jay, was born in 1951. She committed herself to being a full time mother. Her daughter, Janet, was born in Charlottesville, Virginia, in 1954. The family moved to Waco in 1956. She became a member of the Baylor University theater faculty in 1972, where she served until her retirement in 1992. In addition to her formal teaching duties in the theater department, she contributed to Baylor's Honors Program. She was also actively involved in the Waco Cotton Palace from its inception. She was an active member of the Baylor Round Table and the Waco Literary Club, having served as president of each. She and her husband, John, celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary June 3, 2014. Ruth was a member of Seventh and James Baptist Church. She was preceded in death by her parents; sister, Doris Gates; and brother, James McAtee, Jr. She is survived by her husband, John Belew; son, Jay Belew and wife, Sonia; and daughter, Janet Dizinno and husband, Gerry; grandchildren, Natalie Belew and Jackie Edwards and husband, A.J.; great grandchildren, Kevin and Lester Edwards; sisters-in-law, Katherine Ann Gorham and Francis McAtee; and brother-in-law, Philip Gates; and many cherished nieces, nephews and cousins. The family invites you to leave a message or memory in our "Memorial Guestbook" at www.WHBfamily.com.