Lizzie Ruth Irwin 1923 ~ 2022
Lizzie Ruth Collins Irwin, 99, changed her address from Hammon, Oklahoma to Heaven where she joined her Heavenly Father on Sunday, February 20, 2022. Ruth was born February 19, 1923 in Carthage, Texas to John Jefferson and Ellen Mae (Pass) Collins.
In 1924 she moved with her family to Hammon, Oklahoma where she continued to live and raise her family. Ruth graduated from Hammon High School. In 1941 she married Harold Irwin. They had two children Bama and Robert. Harold was an employee at Walton Ford Company and Ruth was a telephone operator at the Telephone Exchange for the late Russell and Mable Seaman.
Even as a teen Ruth loved people and enjoyed working with and for the public. She was the manager of Walton’s Bar-B-Que Restaurant in Hammon, an a employee for the Meyer’s in Chickasha, Oklahoma as a sales lady in their Sonya’s Dress Shop in Elk City, Oklahoma for many years. Ruth worked as an ombudsman in Elk City Nursing Home and was a trained hospice worker. She had a successful business career in the First National Bank in Hammon for over twenty-five years as a cashier and vice-president until her retirement in 1988. She was a life member of the Red Moon Study Club. Ruth accepted the Lord as her Savior at the age of nine, was baptized and became a member of the First Baptist Church in Hammon which was one of the loves of her life. All through the years she stayed committed and active in her church, serving on committees, helping in Bible School, Choir member and teacher her favorite Sunday School Class, which was High School Girls and Married Women. She was also the church secretary for many years.
Her special contribution in life was a caring wife of seventy-three years, a loving mother who tirelessly shared her talents, time and love to her children and grandchildren who have benefited from her help and teaching.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Monday, February 28, 2022 at First Baptist Church, Hammon, Oklahoma. Rev. Charlie Henthorn will officiate, Rev. Scott Showers will assist. Private graveside services will be held for the family and close friends at 10:00 a.m., Monday, February 28, 2022 at Red Hill Cemetery, Hammon Oklahoma. Services have been entrusted to the care of Richard and Tammy Dugger and the staff of Martin-Dugger Funeral Home in Elk City, Oklahoma. Cherishing her memory is her daughter, Bama Blount and her husband, Don of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; son, Robert Irwin of Hammon, Oklahoma; three grandchildren, Elisha Wheeler of Edmond, Oklahoma, Brent Blount and his wife, Melissa of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Curtis Irwin of Hammon, Oklahoma; two great grandchildren, Kyra Wheeler and Kennedi Wheeler both of Edmond, Oklahoma; nieces, Donna Howard of El Cajon, California, Patti Spencer of Prescott, Arizona, Susie Megling of Prescott, Arizona, Deliese Olson of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
Preceded in death by her husband, Harold Irwin; parents, John J. and Ellen Mae Collins, two sisters; Era and husband, Joy Bailey, Aubrey and husband, Geno Buchanan; two brothers, Bueford and wife, Grace Collins, Oran and wife, Billie Collins; three cousins raised as sisters in their home, Leona Warren, Garlan Truitt and Nellie Pittman; two nephews, Keith Buchanan, Mike Collins; grandson, James Wheeler; niece, Beth Gallear
A special thank-you to Elk City Comforting Hands Hospice and much appreciation to our personal caregivers, Michelle Morgan and Janice Meshew.
Memorials can be made to the Central Oklahoma Camp Conference Center at #1 Twin Cedar Lane, Guthrie, Oklahoma 73044 or online at centralokcamp. org.
We invite you to leave a message of condolence, expression of sympathy or perhaps share a memory of Ruth at www.martin-duggerfuneralhome. com.
The family would like to invite all that cannot attend to watch the service live on Martin-Dugger Funeral Home website.
Funeral services will be held Monday, February 28, 2022, 11:00AM at the Hammon First Baptist Church.
