Ruth G. Branum

Ruth (Gawf) Branum went home to be with the Lord on Friday, September 18, 2015, at the age of 106. She was born in Oktaha, Oklahoma, on August 16, 1909, and lived most of her life in Muskogee. Ruth and her husband Victor Branum were married in 1928 and were grocers for 30 years, opening their first store in Muskogee in 1929. As a Christian woman, she saw the beauty of God’s world in people, flowers and nature. She was a faithful member of the Church of Christ in Muskogee, serving as an elder’s wife, mentor, children’s Bible School teacher, and host to the loveliest wedding and baby showers. She was known for her gracious hospitality and beautiful gardens and strong faith. Ruth blessed friends and family with flowers, plants and produce for decades. She and her husband Vic were strong promoters of Oklahoma Christian University, where Vic was one of the original incorporators and Trustees. Ruth was an active volunteer, dating from her days making bandages for soldiers during WWII. She volunteered at the Five Civilized Tribes Museum, Volunteers of America and Muskogee Regional Medical Center, as well as serving faithfully as a member of the Chandler Road Church of Christ. During the last year of her life, she was not only loved by her family and friends, but also by her new friends and caregivers at Aberdeen Heights Assisted Living, Seasons Hospice, and at Clarehouse. She is survived by her son, Richard Branum of Fort Smith, Arkansas, and daughter Eleanor Miller and her husband Dan Miller of Tulsa, Oklahoma; grandchildren Richard Dale Branum, Melissa Branum, Monna Miller Gilpin and husband James, Mike Miller and wife Holly Rosser Miller, and Matt Miller; great-grandchildren Andrew Gilpin, Meghan Gilpin and Annie Miller; sisters Rubye Cox, 111 years of age, of Bristol, Rhode Island, and Rose Shloss, age 102, of Sarasota, Florida, sister-in-law Thelma Gawf of Omaha, Nebraska; nieces and nephews Betty Cox Gilbert, Carlyle Cox, Carol Shloss, Jan Shloss, Pat Foster, Ed Gawf and wife Sue, Dave Gawf, Ron Poole and wife Marilyn, Rosemary Schumacher, and Jay Gawf. Ruth was preceded in death by her husband of 46 years, Victor Austin Branum; by her parents John and La Nora Belle Rodgers Gawf; by brothers Laverne, Elmer and J.C Gawf; and by sister Frances Gawf Rogers; by nephew Dan Gawf; and nieces Rosalind Stenson and Jan Foster. Friends and family will celebrate her life with services at 2:00 p.m., Friday, September 25, 2015, at Chandler Road Church of Christ in Muskogee with Minister Harry Fitzgerald, Minister Jimie-Wray Mead, Minister Ken Tackett, and Minister Donnie Branscum officiating. Interment will follow at Greenhill Cemetery in Muskogee with Michael Miller, Matthew Miller, Richard Dale Branum, James Gilpin, Carlyle Cox, and Andy Stotts serving as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be Ira Boss, Gerald Tackett, Wesley Miller, Bob Stiles, Tim Harris, James Treadway, David Davis, Alan Hutchins, Bill Johnson, Bob Hendrex, Carl Cole, Charles Learned, Ron Lashley, David White, Bill Lytle, Carl Frazier, Mike Daniels, and Tony Nichols. Memorials may be made to Hope Harbor Children’s Home, P.O. Box 1047, Claremore, OK 74018 and In Search of the Lords Way, P.O. Box 371 Edmond, OK 73803.

Ruth G. Branum

August 16, 1909 - September 18, 2015