Ruth Stoops

RUTH ANN (CLARK) STOOPS

Wayland

Ruth Ann (Clark) Stoops, 82, passed away Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2020, at Pioneer

Manor Nursing Home in Hugoton, Kan.

She was born Sept. 28, 1938, at Washington County Hospital in Washington, Iowa. She was the daughter of Frank D. and Martha P. (Pence) Clark. Ruth graduated from Wayland Consolidated High School in Wayland, Iowa. She attended the State College of Iowa, Cedar Falls, where she got her degree in teaching. She later obtained her master's degree from Kansas State University.

Ruth and Richard E. Stoops were united in marriage at St. John's Methodist Church in Davenport, Iowa, on Aug. 16, 1964. They were married for 56 years. He survives.

Ruth's passion was her family, grandchildren and teaching. She taught for 42-plus years, teaching in Durant, Iowa, Davenport, Iowa, Alamogordo, N.M., and Liberal, Kan. In Liberal, she taught second grade at McDermott Elementary School until her retirement in 2004. She also taught G.E.D. and English as a second language in the evenings at Seward County Community College.

Ruth was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary, the Order of the Eastern Star, where she received her 50th year pin, and the Kansas Association of Retired School Personnel.

Survivors include her husband, Richard Stoops Liberal, Kan., and Amarillo, Texas; her daughter, Ann Benfer and husband Kurt of Guymon, Okl.; her son, Kyle Stoops and wife Stacey of Andover, Kan.; her grandchildren, Savanah G. Stoops, Kyra A. Benfer and Joshua E. Benfer; and many nieces and nephews.

Ruth was preceded in death by her parents; brothers, Norman Clark and his wife Dorothy, and Thomas Calvin "Cal" Clark and his wife Kathleen "Tike;" and her sister, Erma Wenger and her husband Gilbert "Gib."

Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 10, at First United Methodist Church, Liberal, Kan., with Pastor Max Whipple presiding. Ruth's place of final rest will be at the Wayland Cemetery in Wayland, Iowa, at a later date, with a private family interment.

While the family appreciates the love and support from family and friends, they require that masks be worn and social distancing be observed during all visitations and services.

Memorial contributions may be sent to the First United Methodist Church of Liberal, Kan., or the Kansas Association of Retired School Personnel Foundation, in care of Hornung Family Funeral Home, 1212 W. Second, Liberal, KS 67901. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.hornungfuneralhome.com.

Beatty-Peterseim Funeral Home in Wayland is assisting with local arrangements.