Woodward County Obituary
Elmwood Cemetery

© Billings Funeral Home
WOODWARD,WOODWARD CO, OK
(permission granted)
Submitted by: Ann Weber

RUTH NEIGHBORS

February 25, 1921 - May 10, 2018

Ruth Neighbors, 97 year old former Woodward resident, died Thursday, May 10, 2018 in Oklahoma City. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Friday, June 8, 2018 at the First Baptist Church of Woodward. Burial will be in the Elmwood Cemetery.

Ruth Elizabeth (Campbell) Neighbors was born February 25, 1921 in Woodward, Oklahoma to Stanley Orth and Nora Mae (Poage) Campbell. Ruth was raised on a farm in Woodward, attended grades 1-8 at a one room school house called Pleasant Hill. She graduated from Woodward High School then went on to graduate from Enid Business College.

She was united in marriage to James Franklin Neighbors on November 15, 1941 in Woodward, Oklahoma. They made their home in Woodward from 1941 until 2002, when Ruth moved to Oklahoma City to be near her family. During World War II, while her husband was serving duty with the United States Navy, Ruth worked for Goetzinger Abstract from 1941 until 1945. She then worked as the Manager for the Montgomery Ward store in Woodward from 1955 to 1965. In 1965, Ruth went to work as the Secretary for the First Baptist Church of Woodward until her retirement. She also worked part-time for Woodward Florist for many years.

Ruth was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, El Reno Chapter. Over several years, she researched at Woodward, Oklahoma City and the National Archives in Washington, DC. One of Ruth's ancestors, Samuel Campbell, served during the Revolutionary War with the Pennsylvania Militia.

Ruth was a member of the First Baptist Church of Woodward and later attended Crossing Community Church in Oklahoma City. She enjoyed quilting with friends, gardening, sewing, making photo family albums, ceramics and she was actively involved in the First Baptist Church. Ruth loved being with her family and enjoyed planning annual family reunions at Boiling Springs Park. Ruth touched hundreds of lives in the Woodward area and will be missed by all who knew her.

She is survived by immediate family: daughters, Sandra Huffman of Oklahoma City and Cheryl Franklin and friend Steve Wilson of Enid; brothers: Gerald Campbell, Billy and wife Betty Campbell, Charles Campbell; one sister, Marilyn Wickham and husband William; brother-in-law, Earl Webb; sister-in-law, Cleo Campbell; five grandchildren: Tracy Marney and husband David, Julie Huffman, James F. Neighbors II and wife Amy, Matthew Neighbors, Kelly Neighbors; six great-grandchildren, Katy and Tyler Cole, Kara and Dustun Cook, Cassie Marney, Grant Craiger, James F. Neighbors III, Joshua Neighbors; one great-great-grandson, Iker Cole; many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, her son James Don Neighbors, sisters Thelma Webb and baby Elenor Campbell, one brother Donald Campbell, and sister-in-law Phyllis Campbell.

If considering a memorial, the family suggests a donation to senders choice.