Mary Ruth (Bartram) Bale, 91, passed away on November 11, 2015 in Webster, Texas. She was born on April 22, 1924 in Mobeetie, Texas to Francis Scribner and Arthur Bartram. She was preceded in death by her husband, Gordon Bale and is survived by: daughters, Nancy Bale-Holland, Kathy Dean, Patricia Bale; son, James Bale; grandchildren, Sean Lipscomb, Crystal Quinn, Max Dean, Aaron Bale-Wood; great grandchildren, Grace and Piper Lipscomb.

 

Ruth, the youngest of 10 children, grew up on a small cotton farm where she rode a horse to a one-room schoolhouse. After high school, she moved to Amarillo where she attended business college. She worked as a secretary and in a Russell Stovers candy factory. She met Gordon at a USO dance just after he returned from serving in Europe and they married in 1945.

 

They had 4 children and spent many years living overseas in Borneo, Libya, England, Iran and Saudi Arabia while Gordon worked in the oil industry. Ruth loved the travel and was always ready for an adventure from riding a camel in Cairo to exploring mosques in Tehran to several trans-Atlantic crossings in a cruise ship. She loved socializing and was famous for hosting bridge parties for her friends. She enjoyed raising her kids and was very proud of them. After the first overseas stint, the Bales lived in Oklahoma where Ruth took up golf and became a regular at the theater. Back overseas again in Saudia Arabia, Ruth was proud to hold a secretarial job after being a housewife for 30 years.

 

Finally the Bales retired to Bayou Vista, Texas where they enjoyed living on the canal. Ruth was active in the community, including the Garden Club where she joked that she was the only non-gardener.  She taught water aerobics at the neighborhood pool and volunteered at the Sunshine Thrift shop in Hitchcock. In recent years, Ruth moved to Brookdale in Webster where she enjoyed her friends, church and playing bingo. She was happiest when she was spending time with her family and going out for her favorite dinner, filet mignon with a strawberry daquiri.

 

A private memorial will be held for Ruth. Those wishing to make a memorial donation in Ruth’s  memory may do so to the America Cancer Society.