Female, b. 31 August 1934, d. 12 September 2008
Ruth Helen Rodgers|b. 31 Aug 1934\nd. 12 Sep 2008|p991.htm|Elmer Dean Rodgers|b. 12 Mar 1906\nd. 4 Jan 1965|p986.htm|Winnie May Needham|b. 30 Apr 1900\nd. 14 Dec 1946|p886.htm|Alexander Rodgers|b. Jul 1864\nd. a 1930|p984.htm|Mary E. (-?-)|b. 31 Jan 1870\nd. 2 Nov 1923|p28.htm|John L. Needham|b. 3 Apr 1869\nd. 17 Sep 1951|p817.htm|Minnie M. Gollihugh|b. 30 May 1872\nd. 27 Mar 1951|p352.htm|
Ruth Helen Rodgers, circa 1970
was born on 31 August 1934 in Salt Fork Community, Wellington, Collingsworth Co., Texas.
1 She was the daughter of
Elmer Dean Rodgers and
Winnie May Needham. Ruth grew up as an only child. She lost her mother to tuberculosis when she was 12 years old and ended up living with her grandparents until she got married. Ruth Helen Rodgers married
Donnie Ray Isbell, son of
Theodore Isbell and
Effie Jane Webb, on 10 November 1951 in Wellington, Collingsworth Co., Texas.
2,3 Her married name was Ruth Helen Isbell.
4 She and Don moved to Bakersfield, Kern Co., California in 1957 where they resided until about 1966 when they moved to Lamont, Kern Co., California so that Don could be closer to work. By April of 1969 she was a full-time housewife and the mother of his four boys. Then tragedy struck and she became a widow when Don was killed in a boating accident on 16 Jan 1971. She suddenly found herself alone and unemployed with four kids to raise. She took the money she received from Don's life insurance and bought a house in Oildale, Kern Co., California. A few months later she discovered 'Parents Without Partners' (a local club for single parents) and there she found the support and friendship she needed to move on with her life. During one of the club gatherings she met a nice single man who made her laugh and seemed to share many common interests with her. They hit it off and started dating almost immediately. Things moved along very quickly for them and after six or seven months of dating they decided to make it permanent. Ruth Helen Rodgers married
Ralph Carl Bell on 23 December 1971 in Las Vegas, Clark Co., Nevada.
4 Her married name was Ruth Helen Bell.
4 Her and Ralph had only one child together, a son they named Timothy. At some point (after 1972), she started selling Avon and this became her lifelong hobby. She enjoyed buying and collecting the decorative decanters as much as she enjoyed selling them. She was undoubtedly her own best customer. She would proudly display them throughout the house and if someone commented on one of them, there was a good chance they got one just like it for a birthday or Christmas gift. She was a very giving person and loved all of the holidays. She enjoyed decorating, playing holiday music and baking cakes, pies, cookies and other goodies. Her nice, friendly and motherly personality earned her the nickname "Ma Bell" by most of her kids' friends who thought of her as their 'second mom'. She became a widow for the second and last time when Ralph was murdered on 6 Mar 1982 while working the night shift at his job. The case was never solved. Ruth never remarried again after Ralph's death. She settled for being a loving mother and grandmother and did the best she could without a partner. She enjoyed feeding and spoiling her grandchildren and they enjoyed visiting her and keeping her company. As for her health, Ruth suffered from high blood pressure and type-2 diabetes for many years and then spent her last three or four years battling dementia. Ruth Helen Rodgers died on 12 September 2008 in Californian Care Center, Bakersfield, Kern Co., California, at age 74.
4 Her graveside funeral service was held on 15 Sep 2008, but her burial had to be delayed for a few days until the burial permit could be obtained. She was buried on 17 September 2008 in Greenlawn Memorial Cemetery, Bakersfield, Kern Co., California, next to her first husband Don.
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