Mary Ruth Waldrep

Mary Ruth Sizemore Waldrep was born on August 17th, 1927. She passed away in her home on Monday, February 12th, 2024. A lot of things happened between these two dates.

Mary Ruth was the only child of Ted and Alice Sizemore. She was born at her grandparents’ home in Tioga, Texas. They were a strong family and had deep roots in faith, hope and the love for the Lord. Her father worked for General Foods and they moved often managing the Oklahoma and Arkansas area. Wherever they lived, they found a church home. At the age of eight, she made her profession of faith at the First Baptist Church of McAlister, Oklahoma.

Ruthie was the first chair clarinet in her high school All-Girl Band in Lawton, Oklahoma. They marched in many parades. When the Second World War began, she and her schoolmates collected metal to be used for bullets to help the boys fighting in Europe and the Atlantic.

She graduated high school in December and enrolled at Oklahoma A&M University in January 1945. Ruthie joined the pledge class of a brand-new sorority called Alpha Chi Omega. She was promptly elected Pledge Class President. The next year, she became the first president of the new sorority. Most recently she spoke at the sorority’s 70th Anniversary Party. Two years ago in 2022, she spoke at the 75th Gala. She is something of a legend for that sorority.

In the Fall of 1946, she met Bob Waldrep at the Welcome Dance on campus. When this decorated veteran saw the cutest blonde ever dancing with some “guy”, he immediately cut in and asked her to dance. They married in 1949, one month after they graduated.

In1953, they delightedly adopted a four-day old baby boy. When little Jimmy was five, they adopted David (4 ½) and his sister, Becky (6). They were just settling into being a family of five when Ruth began feeling unusually fatigued. Eight months later Dana was born.

Bob worked for the Apollo Paper Company in Houston, Texas. Ruth took a job at Dana’s high school where she was quite favored by students and faculty. When Dana graduated, Ruth took a job at Houston’s First Baptist Church where she worked nearly 14 years. She loved those years being able to serve people and the Lord.

In 1993, they retired to San Angelo, Texas where they remained dedicated to their God, their family, and their church. Bob passed away in 2015.

She is survived by their children, Jim Waldrep (wife Peggy), Becky Woodall, David Waldrep, Sr., and Dana Dickens (husband Jay); grandchildren, Steven Woodall (wife Cristina), Jennifer Woodall, Amy Papadimitriou (husband Nick), Brandon Woodall (wife Allison), Angela Hawkins (husband Shane); David Alan Waldrep, Deborah Kay Waldrep; Jason Dickens (wife Karlyn), and Kennen Dickens; currently there are 16 great grandchildren (plus numerous dogs, cats, and horses).