Ruth Jane Dunlap's Obituary
Ruth Jane Kirkby Dunlap was born on October 14, 1922, in Detroit, Michigan to Ruth Elsie Bauman Kirkby and Clyde Kirkby. She died peacefully at home on August 5th, 2021, in Dallas. Ruth was preceded in death by her loving husband of 65 years, Fredrick McCune Dunlap. Ruth’s early years were spent in Detroit with her parents, along with her cherished brother, Bob Kirkby. She attended Northwestern High School in Detroit, and she graduated from Albion College in 1943. While at Albion, Ruth was a member of Alpha Xi Delta Sorority. Ruth chose to become a teacher and began her long career in teaching in downtown Detroit. While teaching school in Detroit, Ruth met Fred, and they married in August 1945. Fred and Ruth lived in Detroit, Flint, Raleigh, Beaumont, Louisville, and Dallas, where they settled in 1965 and enjoyed decades of life with good friends and family. They became members of Highland Park United Methodist Church and were active with the Two-by-Two Sunday School Class. Always busy and mindful of helping others, Ruth found teaching a rewarding career and taught at El Centro, Mountain View and Eastfield Junior Colleges in Dallas. An avid reader, she could seldom be caught without a book or researching an interesting topic. While in her 50’s, Ruth returned to school and earned a master’s degree from UT-Dallas. Ruth’s vacation time was spent traveling to many destinations around the globe, but her favorite spot was in Michigan on the St. Clair River. She was proud to share that she was a descendant of the St. Bernard family, who were some of the earliest settlers of the area. Her family continues to enjoy time spent at her cottage with family and close friends. Ruth is survived by her children, Fred and fiancé, Julie, John Dunlap and wife, Denise, and Ann Dunlap Jones and husband, David. Her grandchildren, Ted, Ann, Tyler, Scott, and Melissa, will forever remember their grandmother as an inspiration and will pass on many lessons learned from her to their children, including great grandchildren, Elsie Dunlap and Cooper Dunlap. The family would like to give special thanks to her loving caretakers, Winnie Mehari, Helen Mesfun, and Free Haile. They were faithful friends, and we will always be grateful for their kindness. Ruth led a long and wonderful life devoted to God, loving her family, and cherishing her many friendships. She will be missed. From one of her favorite authors, F. Scott Fitzgerald, “So we beat on, boats against the current, born back ceaselessly into the past.”
Memorial contributions may be made to St. Clair First United Methodist Church, The Salvation Army, Albion College, or the charity of your choice.
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