Ruth G. McGinley, 94, of Beaumont, Texas, died Thursday, February 6, 2014, at Calder Woods. She was born on August 24, 1919, in Johnson County, Kansas, to Nelle Reeds Garnett and Elvin D. Garnett, and grew up in South Texas and Kansas City.
Ruth received her BBA from the University of Kansas in 1941, where she lettered on the Rifle team. She worked as a procurement agent for the federal government during World War II at the Kansas City Depot. Ruth met her loving husband, Robert J. McGinley, in Kansas City, and they married on March 24, 1943. They lived in Columbia, Missouri, and in the Kansas City area before moving to Beaumont in 1957.
Ruth was a member of Trinity United Methodist Church since 1958, past president of Trinity’s Friendship class, trained in the Stephens Ministries by Dr. Roland T. (“Bill”) Scales to help people in crisis, and was a Sunday school teacher in Columbia, Missouri and Beaumont, Texas. She enjoyed being a Cub Scout Den Mother for her sons, Robert and Thomas, and a Rainbow Mother for her daughters, Susan and Nancy. Ruth was also a member of the Order of Eastern Star since 1943, past president of the Beaumont Chapter of the American Association of University Women, a member of the George Moffitt Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution since 1970, and a member of the Own-A-Book club since 1972. Ruth enjoyed bridge, including duplicate bridge, and was a member of several bridge clubs. Ruth was loving and caring, thoughtful and kind, wise in her advice, and a devoted wife and mother. She enjoyed family get togethers, and she had a passion for traveling with her family.
Survivors include her children, Susan M. Peterson and her husband, James, of Abita Springs, Louisiana; Robert J. McGinley of Spring, Texas; Nancy E. McGinley of Arlington, Virginia; daughter-in-law, Denise M. Kura and her husband, Randy, of Beaumont; and beloved friend, Dr. Jo Ann Hensel of Beaumont. She is preceded in death by her husband, her parents, her son, Thomas S. McGinley; and her sisters, Elizabeth G. Hall and Virginia G. Bray.
The family thanks her longtime caregiver and friend, Gloria Meadows, for her loving care and devotion to Ruth. They also extend thanks to the staff at Calder Woods for their kindnesses in caring for Ruth.
A gathering of Mrs. McGinley’s family and friends will be held from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m., Monday, February 10, 2014, at Broussard’s, 2000 McFaddin Avenue, Beaumont. The funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m., on Tuesday, February 11, 2014, at Trinity United Methodist Church, 3430 Harrison Avenue, Beaumont, with interment to follow at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Beaumont.
Memorial contributions may be made in Mrs. McGinley’s name to the Capital Campaign Fund at Trinity United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 5247, Beaumont, Texas 77726.
