DAR press release
One of Carol Ruska’s job as historian of the Sarah Maples Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution was to select someone for the Woman in American History to give her an award. Carol immediately thought of Ruth Shelton. The award had to go to someone who has made a contribution or a difference in their community.
Ruth has collected funds for the American Red Cross and the American Cancer Society. She has been an active fundraiser for PTAs, chambers of commerce, veterans organizations. She volunteers at retirement communities and libraries. One of her very favorite things to do and that she is most proud of is lineage research for herself and any body else who needs it. She is like and old bulldog in her research, she never gives up. She belongs to the UDC, Colonial Dames 17th Century, DAC, DAR and War of 1812. She is a member of Rootseekers, she gives programs on local history and historical events. Ruth is happiest when she is busy with research. She doesn’t care who’s research, all of it is interesting even if its not hers.
Ruth was born in Eustace, but lived in Dallas and California between 1940-1986 when she returned to Eustace and made her home there until just recently. While she lived in Eustace, she belonged to the First Baptist Church where she was baptized when she was just a girl of 9. This happened in a stock pond behind the church. She has since moved to Benbrook Lake near Crowley to be near her son. Ruth became interested in genealogy in 1957 when she discovered her grandmother had 13 siblings, when Ruth thought she had only three. This peaked her curiosity and the race was on. She has been going strong every since. So today we celebrate Ruth Shelton as our Sarah Maples Woman in History.
Ruth will be one of the speakers at the DAR Lineage Research Workshop to be held on April 22 at 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Tri-County Library in downtown Mabank. The workshop is free and a light lunch will be served. Anyone wishing to attend should call Suzanne Fife at 903-432-3130. Seating is limited so call now.