Emily Ruth Cole's Obituary
Emily Cole Obituary
Emily Ruth Cole departed this life on August 24, 2018 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Ruth was born on December 15, 1925, the third child of six to Jacob Henry and Etta Rose (Rider) Nance of Bixby and graduated from Bixby High in 1943. Financially unable to go to college, a lifelong goal, she put herself through Draughon School of Business in Tulsa. This allowed her to achieve the status of Executive Secretary at established companies in Tulsa, such as: McDonnell Douglas, Oklahoma Natural Gas and Zebco. At Zebco, Ruth was Executive Secretary to R.D. Hull, the inventor of Zebco's patented backlash-free fishing reel. Ruth met her husband, Woodrow "Woody" Cole, who also worked for ONG, at a company event on New Year's Eve in 1947. They married eight months later in August 1948 and raised three children who still reside in Tulsa. Ruth and Woody together purchased and successfully operated Sagebrush Pipeline Supply Company from 1961-1985. Woody died in 1987.Ruth loved traveling, entertaining, watching old movies and reading. The venerated Lewis Meyer gave her the nickname of "Bookaholic" and she instilled a love of learning and reading into her children. Ruth was also involved in many local organizations including the Golden Hurricane Club, Tulsa Boys Home and American Red Cross. She was a charter member of Tulsa Christian Women and very active in the St. Francis Auxiliary where she exceeded more than 1,000 hours distributing photographs of newborn babies. Ruth was a member of Boston Avenue United Methodist Church.Ruth was preceded in death by her parents, her five siblings: Leonard Nance, who was killed in the Battle of the Bulge, Helen Reardon, Eugene "Dude" Nance, Betty Van Arsdel, and Steve Nance. She was also preceded in death by her second husband, John Call, who brought her much happiness. Ruth is survived by her three children: daughter, Linda McGowan and her husband Phillip; son, David Cole and his wife, Jeanne; and daughter, Laura Daniel and her husband, Mike; seven grandchildren: Claire McGowan, Gavin McGowan, Ellen Ruth Price and husband, Adam, Spencer Cole, Julia Cronin and husband, Blake, Joseph Daniel and fiancée, Mercedes Vega, and Woody Daniel.Service Memorial Park Cemetery 5111 S. Memorial Drive Tulsa, Oklahoma 74145 10:00 AM
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