Ruth was born on Dec. 17, 1933, to Mildred Kates Kinney and W.R. (Bill) Kinney in Claremore. Her family moved to Sulphur in 1946. After graduating from Sulphur High School in 1951, she married Frank S. Townsley on July 14, 1952. Their love for each other was extraordinary and went on to last 71 wonderful years.

Four children were born to this union, Ruth Stringer (Jack), Melinda Burk (Roy), Frank S. Townsley, Jr. and Forrest M. Townsley (Jennifer.) In 1973, they moved to Norman, where they would finish raising their kids and become longtime residents. Ruth was the owner and broker for Ruth Townsley Realty and enjoyed her real estate career for 25 years. During this time she was President of the Norman Board of Realtors and received her Certified Residential Specialist designation. In 1993, she was awarded the Women’s Council of Realtors “Woman of the Year” for the Norman, Oklahoma Chapter. Ruth also received the Oklahoma Wildlife Federation’s Conservation Education Award for her efforts in establishing “The Outdoor Classroom.” She was a member of P.E.O. and served several terms as president of Chapter FB. Ruth was a member of the First Christian Church.

She was an accomplished seamstress and loved to cook and create her own recipes, but her greatest love of all was her family. She and Frank loved hosting family get-togethers where the family would sit around visiting, filling their home with laughter.

Ruth is predeceased by her parents; husband, Frank Townsley; sister, Leah Parks; brother, John William Kinney; grandson, Matthew Frank Stringer; and great granddaughter, Isabella Stringer.

She is survived by one brother, Bryan Kinney; her four children; five grandchildren, Shelly Hon-Stringer, Jessica Moore, Kaitlin Moore, Felicia Coats and Abigail Newell; 10 great grandchildren, Sydney Burks, Brady Burks, Jackson Stringer, Kingston Stringer, Hadley Stringer, Evan Moore, Kadence Moore, Kairi Ishman, Samson Newell and Andi Newell, one great-great granddaughter, Hazel Harris.

Ruth was truly a “one of a kind woman” and she will be so dearly missed by her family. She will forever have a special place in our hearts.