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Note: Park, Ruth Irene Hopson]
Bedford Times-Press
Wednesday January 12, 1994 p. 8
Ruth Park
Ruth Irene Hopson Park was born on May 19, 1904 near Bedford, Iowa, the daughter of John Wesley and Tessie Ann Hopson. She and her four brothers and four sisters attended Frog Valley Country School.
Ruth graduated from Bedford High School in 1922 with a teaching certificate. She drove her Model T to school nearly seven years teaching in Taylor County.
Ruth married Arthur Park February 16, 1929. Arthur teased Ruth about wearing out her Model T so that after their marriage she had to finish out her school year driving his Model T. The couple began their married life on a farm six miles southwest of Bedford where they lived and farmed for the next 40 years. During that time they had a daughter, Marilyn Ann, and a son, Max Arthur.
Ruth had great interest in the activities of her children, serving many years as a 4-H leader, and was also active in neighborhood social groups and served on the local country school board.
She had a great love and appreciation of flowers and gardening and had a knack for making things grow. She was also very creative. Ruth enjoyed crocheting and arts and crafts and loved to teach her grandchildren how to make beautiful things from miscellaneous objects. She was good natured and fun loving and enjoyed playing practical jokes.
Ruth kept a daily diary for many years. The following verse was found in one of her diaries and is exemplary of her positive outlook on life.
“It’s the little things we do and say that makes life worthwhile.
As we go our way, a friendly greeting and a cheery smile
Are what it takes to make life worthwhile.”
Ruth was baptized in and became a member of the Bedford Christian Church in 1927.
Ruth and Arthur Park would have celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary on February 16, 1994.
Left to cherish her memory are her husband of the home, Arthur Park, daughter Marilyn Longfellow and her daughter, Kay French and husband Jerry and their daughters, Amber and Amy; son Max Park and his wife Ardyth and their three children, Teresa Harold and husband Marvin, Teresa’s son Johnny Molloy; Suzie Turner and husband, Mike, Jim Park and wife Debbie and their children, Tessa and Cole, along with brothers Humphrey and Frank Hopson, sisters, Flavia Davidson and Lucille Hopson and many nieces and nephews.
Ruth was preceded in death by her parents, brothers Carl and Oliver Hopson and sisters Marjorie Hopson and Lydia Webb.
In her last months, Ruth got the most enjoyment from her visiting great grandchildren, who never failed to make her chuckle and smile.
Ruth died Tuesday evening, Jan. 4, 1994 at Mercy Hospital in Corning, Iowa. Funeral services were held Saturday, Jan. 8, 1994 at Novinger-Taylor Funeral Home in Bedford with Rev. Lester Johnson officiating. Burial was in the Fairview Cemetery in Bedford, Iowa.
Those who knew her will miss Ruth’s infectious and characteristic laughter.
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