Ruth Turner Lagrone
Ruth Turner Lagrone - A life of love, letters, and friendships that last forever.
Ruth died peacefully at home with her family around her on March 11, 2022, in Milano.
A memorial service will be held Saturday, March 26, 2022, at 1 p.m. at Liberty Community Church, 4967 FM 3242, Cameron, TX.
Ruth was born Dec. 16, 1931, in Cameron, to Lester Watson and Marietta (Pool) Turner. She grew up along with brothers Lester Watson (LW) Jr, Arvis Burrell, and Elbert Earl in Cameron. Originally named Vera Ruth, some classmates called her “Vi-Vi” throughout her life. Ruth was involved in many varied activities during her years in school and maintained life-long relationships with tennis partners, fellow band members, and classmates with visits, telephone calls and especially letter writing.
With the encouragement and support of many including aunts, neighbors, and community friends, Ruth attended Mary Hardin Baylor College in Belton and studied Journalism with the Class of 1953. Ruth developed wonderful relationships while attending MHB even naming her first-born child after a classmate. She remained connected to the many friends from those days over the years including attending the most recent 68-year reunion for the Class of 1953.
Ruth married AD Lagrone on June 11, 1952, in her parents’ home with parents and grandparents in attendance as well as LW and Eugenia Turner as their attendants. After the Baptist preacher concluded the service with prayer, AD asked to offer a prayer for his new family. His spoken words assured the extended family that a solid future founded in faith was ahead. Their shared faith would undergird every aspect of their lives together.
Ruth and AD raised five children, Lucy, Lisa, Andy, Joel, and Lore. Over the years, they made their home in Cameron, Boise, Idaho, and El Paso, before retiring in 1998 to live in Milano. In each location, they actively lived, served, and were a significant part of their church, neighborhood, and community. Ruth cared for children, taught Sunday School, Vacation Bible School, Training Union, Special Education, Kindergarten, then serving as the Children’s Coordinator and Day Care Administrator at First Baptist Church, El Paso. Her home was always filled with children, laughter, funny songs, games, and puzzles.
Ruth was outgoing and congenial throughout her life. She made friends easily in all situations, and more importantly, nurtured and maintained friendships. Ruth was a woman of letters. There were letters to editors, customer service department, and school boards. The greatest volume, however, were letters to friends, family, grandchildren, pen pals, college students and anyone she thought might benefit from getting a letter of acknowledgement, support, or encouragement. She wrote frequent and newsy letters. Most included snippets from newspapers, letters from others, pictures, cuttings from anything she considered thoughtful and relevant to the person she was writing. During the last months of her life, she was still writing to childhood friends, girlfriends from college, and friends from every place she and AD had ever lived.
Ruth lived her life well – both giving and receiving much love. Ruth enjoyed her children, grandchildren and each great grandchild born was “the most beautiful baby I’ve had ever seen.” She was ready to be with her Savior and hoped to be with AD and Lucy again.
Survivors include her brother, Burrell Turner of Austin; two daughters, Lisa Lagrone of Milano and Lore Lagrone of Pearland; two sons, Andy Lagrone and wife Jamie of Bulverde, and Joel Lagrone and wife D’Aun of Keller; son-in-law, John Long of DeLand, Fla.; nine grandchildren, Megan Green, Shay Redwine, Aaron Lagrone, Jake Lagrone, Cameron Lagrone, Latham Speasmaker, Caleb Speasmaker, Samantha McGee, Jill Wilson; and twelve great-grandchildren, Hannah, Titus, Jude, Lydia, Rebekah, Macy, Catalina, Shelby, Emily Paige, Averie, Parker and Piper.
Ruth was predeceased by her husband of 64 years, AD; her parents, Lester and Marietta Turner; two brothers, LW and Earl Turner; one daughter, Lucy Lagrone-Long; and one son-in-law, Chris Speasmaker.