Ruth Erickson

Ruth Belle Walkup Erickson, age 92, passed away October 14, 2018 in Waco, Texas. Services will be held Friday, October 19 at 1 pm at OakCrest Funeral Home with burial to follow later at Oakwood Cemetery. Visitation will be held Thursday, October 18 from 5 to 7 at the funeral home.

Born near Nara Visa, NM on October 4, 1926 to Roy C. Walkup and Belle Ida Griffith Walkup, Ruth moved to Marionville, MO in 1936.

She worked as a telegrapher for the Frisco Railroad for two years, where she met her husband, George M. Erickson. They married on February 6, 1944 in Richland, MO and moved from Springfield, MO to Sherman, TX in 1949.

While her children were young, she was active in church and PTA and led a group of Camp Fire Girls. She shared an interest in Amateur (Ham) Radio with her husband.

In 1988, Ruth retired from Baylor University Moody Library, where she worked for twenty-three years.

Ruth was active in the Henry Downs Chapter of Daughters of the American Revolution. She was also a former member of the Central Texas Genealogy Society, served as Secretary/Treasurer of the local chapter of National Association of Retired & Veteran Railway Employees (NARVE) for 20 years, and was a member of FUMC.

After Ruth retired she enjoyed genealogy, computers, traveling, spending time with grandchildren, and caring for George.

She was preceded in death by her loving husband, George M. Erickson in 2012.

Ruth is survived by two daughters, Georgina Eileen Bright and husband, David Lee Bright of Harrisburg, NC, and Margaret A. Erickson; 3 granddaughters, Sarah Bright and husband, Christopher Patterson of Chicago, Angela Popernack and husband, Paul of Prince Frederick, Maryland, and Shelley; and 3 great-grandchildren, Devon Bright-Patterson, Asher Popernack and Tabitha Belle Popernack.

The family expresses their gratitude to all of the support from the community.