Ruby Parker

Ruby Faye (Glenn) Parker, beloved mother, grandmother and great grandmother went to be with the Lord on June 1st, 2011. She was born May 14, 1914, on her grandfather’s farm east of Santo, Texas, to Jesse Evans and Mary Obedience (Nolen) Glenn. As a young man, her father worked for the Texas and Pacific Railroad, moving the family to West Texas towns that included Monahans, Van Horn, Sand Hills and Loraine. Her mother was a talented seamstress and musician. The family moved to Gentry, Arkansas in 1918 when she was four but returned to Texas, living briefly in Weatherford before moving back to her grandfather and former Texas Ranger J.R. Glenn’s farm near Santo. She completed six years of elementary school in Santo. Her family attended the First Baptist Church, and her mother was the pianist. The family returned to Gentry in 1927. She was promoted a grade level and graduated from Gentry High School in 1932. She married Henry Howard Parker on June 17, 1934. After several years in Gentry, they moved briefly to Watts, Oklahoma, then Siloam Springs Arkansas returning to Gentry in 1945. Mr. Parker worked 49 years as a telegrapher and station agent for the Kansas City Southern Railroad and died in 2003. Ruby Faye continued to live in the home they had shared for over 60 years. Ruby Faye was active in community activities, enjoyed photography, played the piano, was a member of numerous civic groups, loved to work in the flower garden, and was proud of her Texas roots. She was a member of the First Baptist Church of Gentry and was a lifetime member of the Order of the Eastern Star. She worked for many years as City Clerk for the City of Gentry and was mayor of the city for a short time. She loved to write human interest stories and provided many stories while working for the local paper, The Journal Advance. She wrote historical articles for several publications of the Gentry Chamber of Commerce and wrote the history of her family for Santo: The Hub, a book published in 1980 about the people of Santo, Texas. She was an avid reader and letter writer, always taking an interest in what her friends and family were doing. In her later years she gave special attention to her cats, and enjoyed crossword puzzles. She loved and supported her grandchildren and great grandchildren and was very proud of their accomplishments. In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her sister Eula Mae (Glenn) Scott of Austin, Texas, brother Maurice Edmund Glenn of Fort Worth, Texas, and son David Van Parker of Fort Worth, Texas. She is survived by her son Rick Parker and wife Teresa of Gentry; granddaughter, Rhiannon Parker of Gentry; grandson David Parker and wife Ashley of Plano, Texas; great grandsons Blake and Reid Parker of Plano, and niece and nephew, Glenn Scott and family and Nolen Scott and family of Austin, Texas. Graveside services will be conducted by Wasson Funeral Home on June 3rd, 2011 at 10:00 in the Gentry Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Meals on Wheels program of Gentry, Arkansas.

Tributes

Ruby Parker

May 14, 1914 - June 1, 2011