Wilma Ruth Gadberry

Funeral services for Wilma Ruth Gadberry, a Stringtown resident since 1983, (was raised in western Oklahoma), will be held Thursday, June 22, 2023 at 2:00 pm. at First Baptist Church in Stringtown with Bro. Loyd Thompson, Bro. Joey Lansdale and Bro. Richard Magby officiating. Burial will be in Redden Cemetery in Redden, OK with Brown’s Funeral Service of Atoka in charge of arrangements.

Mrs. Gadberry was born March 17, 1934 to Henry Edwin and Beatrice (Rose) Brewster at Canute, OK and passed away June 16, 2023 at her home in Stringtown, surrounded by her loved ones, at the age of 89 years, 2 months and 30 days. She attended Pixley and Canute Schools and went on to attend Criswell Bible Institute. Ruth was a telephone operator, a homemaker and housewife. She married J. C. Gadberry August 9, 1953 at Elks City, OK. They celebrated 69 1/2 years of marriage before his passing on January 5, 2023. Ruth was a longtime member of First Baptist Church of Stringtown where she served as a Sunday School teacher. She served as church clerk, Sunday School teacher, and was very active in her former church, Kenwood Baptist Church of Dallas, TX. Ruth wrote Stringtown News, published weekly in the Atoka County Times. She was a great cook, enjoyed butterflies, hummingbirds, growing plants, making and decorating cakes, cooking for others. Ruth made hummingbird cakes and donated them to numerous fund raisers. She was a published poet and loved being with her family.

Survivors include her children, Beth Gutierrez and husband Ray of Stringtown, OK, Jan Barfield and husband Ken of Bennington, OK, Roy Gadberry and wife Kathy of Stringtown, OK; grandchildren, Sonny Ray Robinson, David Robinson and wife Lesley, Dionna Kennedy and husband Thomas, Jaci Bates, Jay Barfield and wife Sasha, Jakeb Barfield and wife Jeannie, Jaelin Baker and husband Dustin, Zackary Gadberry and wife Amber; great-grandchildren, Basel, Jordan, Preslie, Kaelin, Rhylar, Jace, Jarret, Jadyn “Pickle”, Davin, Zane, Maddox, Gunner, Westyn, Brooklyn, Carter, and Taylor; brothers,Verland Brewster and wife Patty, Gary “Butch” Brewster and wife Sandra; along with nieces, nephews, other relatives and many dear and loved friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, Henry Edwin and Beatrice (Rose) Brewster; husband, J.C. Gadberry and great-grandson, Mason Barfield.

Casketbearers will be Arnold Patton, Chris Edgar, John Miller, Claude Self, Derek Kelso, and Kenny Layton. Honorary bearers will be The “Ruth” Sunday School Class-First Baptist Church of Stringtown.

Condolences may be sent to the family by email to: browns@atoka.net. Please reference the name of the deceased in your correspondence.