 Ruth was born on Walker Street in Denison on a hot summer day in July 1908, the daughter of Joseph K. Simmons and Cynthia
Leota Roulain Simmons. Her early ancestors immigrated from France in the late 1600s when the Huguenots rose in rebellion and settled in South Carolina. The family migrated west to Alabama where they were living during the Civil War. After losing everything in the war, the Roulains moved to Texas. Ruth's father, Joseph K. Simmons, was born in August 1872 on a farm located three miles west of what would become Denison just a month later. Ruth's parents met at the Coffman Church in the west part of Denison. Mr. Simmons worked for the railroad but was laid off during the Depression. Ruth graduated from Denison High School in 1926 and then worked at Perrin Field until it closed the first time. She then secured a position in the payroll department of Kraft Foods located in the Barrett Building. Needing more income to raise her two children. Ruth returned to Perrin Field when it was reactivated and worked in the civilian payroll department. She later married a service man and worked in civil services at the different bases where they lived. After retiring Ruth worked as a sitter at Texoma Medical Center, later becoming a ward clerk at the hospital. Ruth died in Denison August 15, 2006 at the age of 98. Cremation Susan Hawkins © 2024 If you find any of Grayson County TXGenWeb links inoperable, please send me a message. |