Location: Baker

Born: November 27, 1934 Osawatomie, Miami County, Kansas

Died: May 10, 2013 Waco, McLennan County, Texas

Daughter of Kelsey Lee and Elsie Metzger Miller

Children:
Chester Lee Pringle (1961 – 1980)

Ruth Ann Pringle, 78, of Waco, went to be with her Lord and Savior Friday, May 10, 2013.

Services will be at 10 a.m. Monday, May 13, at Fellowship Bible Church, 5218 Speegleville Rd. Burial will follow at China Spring Cemetery. The family will receive visitors 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday, May 12, at Fellowship Bible Church,.

Ruth Ann (Miller) Pringle was born Nov. 27, 1934 in Osawatomie, Kan. to Kelsey and Elsie Miller. She was the ninth in a family of 14 kids that included seven boys and seven girls. After graduating Osawatomie High School, Ruth married Jerrel Dee Pringle, Sr. on June 28, 1952 after meeting him at the diner where she worked. Jerrel and Ruth then embarked on a southern multi-state adventure following the pipeline. They then settled in Waco, Jerrel’s hometown, when their two oldest children reached school age. After a total of five children and 28 years of marriage, Jerrel and Ruth went their separate ways in 1981.

During that time of transition, Ruth went to work for Richeson Dairy Queens in Woodway then transferred to a couple of small towns before ending up in Henrietta, Texas. While at that DQ, she earned two prestigious awards–the first being the Five Star Manager Award for managers who excel in the areas of service, cleanliness, sales increase, and food and salary conservation. Additionally, she received the International Dairy Queen Quality-Purity Award. In 1986, Ruth returned to Waco and went to work for Dan’s Dairy Queens at the New Road location where she stayed until she retired in 1999. While there, she continued to consistently lead all managers in food and labor cost as well as customer satisfaction.

Ruth’s work and moral ethics were something to be always be admired and occasionally feared. She was steadfast in her faith, and she wasn’t hesitant to state her beliefs. Ruth was a fiercely dedicated mother, and each of her children is thankful to have had someone so caring to raise them. She was equally enthralled by her grandchildren and loved them all greatly.

Among Ruth’s favorite things were: picking blackberries and morel mushrooms at home in Kansas, tending garden, attending Fellowship Bible Church, having huge feasts for friends, neighbors and family (she could’ve made a living selling her delicious homemade crescent rolls and cinnamon rolls), hitting garage sales for good deals, spending time with her family and watching shows such as Wheel of Fortune, Golden Girls, Fox News and recently, The Voice. After retiring, Ruth started a thriving cleaning business and considered those clients her family. She was a person who loved everyone and saw the best in everyone, even when others were doubtful. She was notoriously thrifty, and it was common for her to wash Styrofoam plates for future use. She’d only throw them out once (big) holes wore in them. If you threw away a Styrofoam plate, you’d be in trouble!

Ruth was vivacious, feisty and healthy until the end of February. She began complaining of fatigue and memory lapses last fall, but nothing was found to be wrong with her. After it became clear that something was amiss and an initial diagnosis in February of dementia, an MRI revealed metastasized lesions in her brain that were caused by an unknown primary cancer that had spread. She’d just finished her sixth radiation treatment and had four to go when she passed away peacefully at home. Being a dedicated Christian, she had no fear of death and had mentioned many times that she was ready to go when the Lord called her. We’re so grateful that Ruth didn’t suffer from pain or loss of function before her death. It was exactly the kind of end she wanted and deserved.

Ruth was preceded in death by her parents; five brothers and two sisters; ex-husband, Jerrel Pringle, Sr.; and her son Chester Lee Pringle.

She is survived by her four children, sons, Jerrel Pringle, Jr. and wife, Pam, of Hemphill, Texas, Wallace Pringle II and wife, Patricia, of Vernon, Texas; and daughters Malinda Handforth and husband, Ray, of Independence, Mo., and Missi Cook and husband, Steve, of Waco; grandchildren, Guy Hollinger, Neil Hollinger and wife, Emily, J.C.Pringle and wife, Jana Bethany, Bill Arrington and wife, Brandy, Jessica Arrington, Jennifer Rummel and husband, Ricky, JoAnna Ince and husband, Terry, Jordan Chandler, Jacob Chandler and fiancé, Hannah Windham, and Jill Chandler. She also has six great-grandchildren and one due May 17.