Ruth F. Chastain's Obituary
Chastain, Ruth F. Born in Omaha, NE on January 8, 1914 to Henry Franklin Chapman and Clara Leona Patterson Chapman, Ruth Franklin Chapman Chastain closed her journey towards the century mark on May 14, 2011. She was fond of saying “I’m getting close to 100 you know.” Never one to be idle, bored or blue Ruth truly was a force in making a difference during her lifetime. After marrying her high school sweetheart Marion Vance Chastain on September 1, 1934 she found herself in the unlikely and unexpected role of “preacher’s wife,” which in her time included the unpaid positions of choir director, drama producer, Sunday School teacher, and women’s group leader. All this she did with great aplomb using her gifts of music and creative energy while maintaining a meticulously clean and organized home for her family. Ruth engineered six moves from Minnesota to Texas always managing to transform dowdy parsonages and one new home into places of beauty and grace. She, herself, was the picture of beauty always perfectly groomed and “put together.” Ruth was preceded in death by her parents, two siblings John Reyburn Chapman and Rita Virginia Chapman Donham and her husband Marion V. Chastain. She is survived by her three children, Gary Vance Chastain and wife Wendy of Rapid City, SD, Gay Chastain Gilmore and husband Dr. Jim E. Gilmore of Dallas, TX and Gregg F. Chastain and wife Arlyss of Loveland, CO. Her life is celebrated by numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren. She was delighted to have been a great great grandmother of five. Special thanks to Ruth’s Dallas family where she spent thirty years in their company enjoying every family occasion including enjoying the opera, making trips to the museums and the annual pilgrimage to view Texas spring wildflowers. Weekly lunches, hairdos and shopping were sacrosanct. Her son-in-law Dr. Jim Gilmore was among her greatest advocates. Graveside services will be held at 11am on Tuesday, May 17, 2011 at Restland Memorial Park with Minister Ron Key presiding, followed by a reception at the Gilmores.
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