Floyd R. Ruth was born November 21, 1916 in Davenport Ok. His parents were Albert Marion Ruth, born in 1864 in Ark. and Malinda (Patterson) Ruth, born in 1889 in Montgomery Ark. Albert and Malinda had 5 children, John, William, Floyd, Leon and Viola.Vivian A. (Williams) Ruth was born October 7, 1920 in Red Oak, Ok. Her parents were James David Williams, born in 1881 in Rosebud Tx., and Maude Ellen (Brown) Williams, born in 1891 in South Bend Tx.
James and Maude had 11 children, Clarence, May, Ada, Lois, Lorene, Samuel, Vivian, Willie, Robbie, Bobbie and Betty.
Floyd and Vivian were married September 19 1937. They had 6 children, Billie Joe, deceased, Virginia Louise, Violet Sue, Malinda Kay, Danny Ray, and Tommy Lee, deceased.
Floyd and Vivian left Oklahoma during the depression and found work in California. During the war they both worked at Shipyard #2 welding ships during WWll, in Richmond, California. They went to work together 5 days a week. Floyd was a certified welder and Vivian became certified 3 months later.
Vivian Ruth was one of the 'Rosie the Riveters. Vivian has been selected to be one of the names on the memorial for those that fought stateside building war ships for the men that went into battle. Vivians name has been selected for the memorial, due to the information and 'documentation' that her grand daughter, Vivian Danette Winter, sent in to the Rosie the Riveter memorial site, Richmond California.
In later years Floyd Ruth worked and retired from General Motors in Fremont, California. He was a millwright welder.
Floyd and Vivian were very active in the church. Floyd holding various leadership positions and Vivian being in charge and very active in women's auxiliary's.
When Floyd retired they traveled a while and came to visit Vivian's sister and husband, Lorene and Jesse Bruton in Wilmore, Ks. They loved the town and bought a home and retired here in Comanche County in 1980.
Floyd and Vivian and Jesse and Lorene Bruton took many trips together in their motorhome. They had many happy times together, fishing at the lake, playing games and was active members of the Assembly of God in Coldwater, Ks.
Floyd and Vivian were married 58 years until Floyds death on December 10, 1995.
Floyd is buried at Crown Hill Cemetery in Coldwater, Ks.
Vivian lived in Comanche County until January 2005 when she moved to live with her daughter, Sue Gaddis, in Phoenix, Arizona.
-- Written by their daughter, Linda Winter.
Also see:
Dan & Linda (Ruth) Winter
Wilmore Opry History
Wilmore Opry Performers & Family
Wilmore Opry News
Wilmore Opry Photos
Thanks to Linda Winter for contributing the above family history to this web site!
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