RUTH SMITH
Ruth Marie (Zielke) Smith of Ada, Oklahoma went to be with her Lord and Savior on Sunday, May 20, 2012. A celebration of Ruth's life and funeral services are scheduled for 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, May 23, 2012 at Asbury United Methodist Church (6th and Johnston) in Ada, Revs. Temple Diehl and Steve Wilburn will officiate. There will be a visitation Tuesday evening from 7-9 p.m. at Criswell Funeral Home.
Pallbearers for the service will be Cary Balzer, Jerry Smith, Matthew Smith, Michael Smith, Brad Smith, Tony Smith and Devon Unruh. Honorary bearers will be Jacob Whelchel, Travis Stanberry, Chandler Smith, Joshua Brikowski and Carter Smith.
Ruth was born on November 6, 1934 at home in rural Meade, Kansas to George and Marie (Warkentin) Zielke. She was married to John William Smith on August 23, 1957 at the Meade EMB Church in Meade, Kansas. She was active in church in every city in which she lived. Most recently she was involved in activities in the Ada Church of the Nazarene, First Baptist Church of Fitzhugh, and Asbury United Methodist Church where she was a longtime member.
Ruth graduated from the 8th grade at Moundview School, a one room schoolhouse near Meade, Kansas. She then graduated from Meade Bible Academy, Meade, Kansas. She attended Tabor College for one year and then graduated from the R. N. program at Grace Hospital and School of Nursing at Hutchinson, Kansas. She worked as a nurse in hospitals in Minneola, KS, Hutchinson, KS, Edmond, OK, Cape Girardeau, MO, Alva, OK and in Ada where she worked at Valley View Regional Hospital, was the student health nurse at East Central University for 17 years, and worked at Rolling Hills Hospital.
She is survived by her husband of 55 years, John Smith; two sons, Tim Smith, of the home, and Todd and wife Dana Smith of Corn, OK; daughters, Diann and husband Tom Brikowski of Richardson, TX, and Debbie and husband John Whelchel of Ada, OK; grandchildren are Kristi and husband Travis Stanberry, Jacob Whelchel, Kayla and Joshua Brikowski, Chandler and Carter Smith; great grandchildren, Claire, Ian, and Abigail Stanberry and Hayden Drake; sisters, Wilma Unruh, Alice and husband LeVon Balzer, and Carol and husband Charles Regier; sisters-in-law, Letha Smith, Alice Smith, Peggy Smith-Malty; brother-in-law, Richard Sweeney, and many other friends and relatives.
She is preceded in death by her parents, George and Marie Zielke; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Wesley and Moeta Smith; brothers, Elmer and Arlen Zielke; brothers-in-law, Doland Unruh, Wesley (Mack) Smith, Howard Smith and Charles Smith; sister-in-law, Letha Fern Smith Sweeney; and nephew, Craig Unruh.
The family says those who wish may make memorials to the Pontotoc County NAMI, c/o Betty Whitely, 1920 Collins Blvd., Ada, OK 74820; or the Asbury United Methodist Church, 508 W. 6th, Ada, OK 74820.
Obituaries may be viewed and online condolences sent to criswellfh.com.

Criswell Funeral Home, Ada