Ruth Ilene Force DeYoe left this earthly life peacefully at Shawn Manor Nursing Home in Ponca City , Oklahoma, on Thursday, April 21, 2022.  Ruth was born in Wellington, Kansas on February 23, 1930, to Walter Russell Force and Alice Esther Wells Force.  She graduated from Wellington High School in 1948 followed by one year at College of Emporia.  Ruth married high school class mate, Richard Wayne DeYoe, Sr., July 1, 1951 , and to that union came four children, Janet, Celia, Kris and Ric hard "Rick", Jr .

While being a homemaker and raising the children, Ruth volunteered in PTA and Girl Scouts of America, both in Kansas. After the family moved to Blackwell, Oklahoma in 1971 , she volunteered in Boy Scouts, Campfire Girls, Meals-on-Wheels program, local Blood Drives and at the local Contact Point Mi nistries , helping serv e meals to the community every year at Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Ruth's e mployment opportunities included serving as S ecretary of Blackwell's First United Presbyterian Church; O utreach W orker for Contact Point Ministries; Case Coordinator for Wheatheart Nutrition , and Manager of Equity Plaza Apartments prior to her retirement in May, 1999 .

She loved to sing and shared her gift as a soloist in area churches.  She also participated in choirs including Wheatheart Sweet Adelines and area churches and community choirs.

In July, 1994, Ruth had the opportunity of a lifetime, to travel to Israel, where she was baptized a second time in the Jordan River, one of the highlights of her life. She was a long-time member of First United Presbyterian Church, Blackwell.

Ruth was preceded in death by parents ; h er sister, June Busch ; daughter and son-in-law, Janet (Roger) Epperly , and Richard DeYoe.

She is survived by two daughters, Celia (John) Cullin and Kris (Robert) Vickery, all of Ponca City, OK; son, Rick (Linda) of Jones, OK; grandchildren, Rachel (Chris) Range of Derby, KS ; James (Cassandra) Cullin of Forrest Grove, OR ; Nyssa Cullin of Heidelberg , Germany ; Kirsti DeYoe and Nick (Kelly) DeYoe of Jones, OK ; Titus & Jonathan Vickery of Ponca City, OK; great-grandchildren, Erin, Emily, Anna, Rae, Cameron, Carter and Logan.

The family wish es to extend their heartfelt gratitude to all the staff at Shawn Manor Nursing Home and Human ity Hospice of Ponca City.  Your love and compassion for Ruth "Ruthie" went above and beyond not only caring for her , but also her family .

In lieu of flowers, d onations can be made in Ruth's memory to Shawn Manor Nursing Home, 2024 Turner, Ponca City, OK 74604, to help support the staff and patien ts that meant so much to her.

A Funeral Service will be held at Roberts and Son Funeral Home, 120 W. Padon, Blackwell, Oklahoma , on Saturday, April 30, 2022, at 2 p.m. with Robert Vickery officiating. Visitation with the family will be at 1 p.m. at the funeral home prior to the service. Interment will follow the service at Prairie Lawn Cemetery in Wellington, Kansas.