Obituary of RUBY WALKUP

Ruby Marie Gowin Walkup was born in Stigler, Oklahoma on October 27, 1921 to Garland and Ethel Gowin. Raised on a farm during the great depression, she attended Connors Junior College in Warner, where she was named Outstanding Home Economics Student by her graduation class. She completed her junior year at Oklahoma A&M in Stillwater, then married Quentin Walkup in December of 1941. She returned to Stillwater, this time to Oklahoma State University, to complete her degree in Elementary Education. As a teacher for twenty-two years at Oakridge Elementary, Liberty Elementary, and finally Woodlawn Elementary, Ruby loved teaching science. She was selected to attend an educators conference in Florida and attend a Space Shuttle launch. Her students always got to launch rockets, and after her retirement in 1984, she continued to go back to Woodlawn and help students launch rockets. She was named Teacher of the Year for Woodlawn in 1984. A local high school student once wrote an essay naming her the most memorable teacher of his education experience. Ruby was a member of First Baptist Church of Sapulpa, Kappa Kappa Iota, Delta Kappa Gamma, and Creek County Retired Teachers. Outside of school, Ruby's interests included travel, sewing, quilting, flower arranging, and participating in the Tibbens "home demonstration club," now called the "Tibbens Oklahoma Home and Community Education Group," of which Ruby was a charter member. She hosted the group for a picnic every June until this year, when multiple myeloma cancer had taken over her body. Ruby was strong believer in family, and kept her family members close, hosting a family reunion every summer at the lake. She was famous for her seven layer bar cookies, named "Hello Dollies" by the former student's mom who gave her the recipe. Ruby is preceded in death by her husband Quentin. She leaves behind her brother Ralph; her children Dale and wife Priscilla of Blue Springs, Missouri; Wayne and wife Margaret of Coweta Oklahoma; and Linda of Sapulpa; her granddaughters Piper and Pepper of Springfield, Missouri; her granddaughter Jade of Blue Springs, Missouri; her granddaughter Kayla of Coweta, Oklahoma; and a host of family and friends. The Family is requesting Donations be Made to the Paul Consiglio Scholarship Fund. Make Checks Payable to Blue Springs School District, Blue Springs, Missouri.