Submitted by Sherry Springer
Ada Ruth Shaffer
1926 - 2015
Services for Ada Ruth Shaffer of Perkins, Oklahoma will be 10:00 Wednesday, April 29, 2015 at the Strode Funeral Home Chapel in Stillwater, OK with Pastor Sam Flick of Friends Chapel Church officiating. Burial will follow at Oak Grove Cemetery, Coyle, Oklahoma. Grandchildren will serve as pallbearers.
She died April 24, 2015 at the age of 89. She was born on April 21, 1926, near Fallis, Oklahoma. Arrangements are under the direction of Strode Funeral Home.
Ada Ruth spent her childhood in the Fallis, Vinco and Perkins areas and graduated from Perkins High School. After graduation, she obtained training as a telephone operator. She also worked as a drug store "soda jerk" in Harper, Kansas. During World War II, she was employed as a "Rosie the Riveter" assembling engine cowlings at the Beechcraft manufacturing plant in Wichita, Kansas.
She married Clarence S. Shaffer on April 20, 1946 in Stillwater, Oklahoma after he returned from military service in the US Army during World War II. To this union five children were born. They made their home west of Perkins in 1947 where they farmed and raised their family. She continued to reside there until her death.
She became a homemaker after marriage and made family her priority. In addition to raising her children, she canned many quarts of apples, cherries, peaches and apricots produced from their fruit trees. She also raised a huge garden and canned the produce for the family’s winter food supply. She was an avid seamstress, sewing Barbie doll clothes, clothes for her children as well as canvas tractor shades. She also enjoyed making ceramics for the grandchildren.
She was involved in her community club and her church, Friends Chapel. She helped with Sunday school and vacation bible school making sure her children attended almost every Sunday. Some of her favorite activities were the family reunions with siblings, but especially the summer lake vacations with her immediate family while her grandchildren were growing up.
She was one of 10 children born to Lewis and Lea (Churchill) Houston. Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband; infant daughter, Jacque Denise; brothers, Clifford, Glen, Leon, Calvin and Lonnie; sisters Violetta Ruminer, Mildred Price, and infant sister, Alice.
She is survived by four children: sons, Dale and Leah Shaffer of Edmond, and Danny Shaffer of Perkins; daughters Charlotte and Terry Langley of Edmond and Renee and Bill Jones of Oklahoma City. She is also survived by nine grandchildren: Dustin, Devin and Erin Shaffer, Brandon and Gavin Langley, Shawn (Jones) Smithson and Nathan Jones, Hannah and Nolan Shaffer. Surviving also are six great grandchildren and sister, Nellie Neitman of Stillwater.
The family wishes to express appreciation to her friends and church family for their support during this difficult time.
Memorial contributions may be made in her name to the Friends Chapel Church, 12212 S Redlands Rd, Coyle, Oklahoma 73027.