Ruth Simpson

Ruth Warrior Simpson, resident of Ponca City, passed away Wednesday, October 1, 2008 in Wichita, Kansas. She was 72. Ruth was born February 24, 1936 on the Ponca Indian Reservation, the daughter of Amos Mitchell Warrior and Irene LeClair Warrior. She was a 1955 graduate of Ponca City High School and was the first person in Ponca City High School to dictate 140 words a minute in shorthand. She was married to William Gerald Simpson Sr. in 1958 at Fort Worth, Texas. She had been employed with the Goldstein Brothers of Fort Worth, Texas before beginning employment with the State of Texas. She was rated as the top executive secretary in 5 state districts while serving with the Texas State Government. She retired from her government position in 1962 at which time she returned to Ponca City. She was a member of the Ponca Indian Baptist Church and the Gives Water Service Club. Her enjoyments included playing bingo, watching football, especially Oklahoma University and the Dallas Cowboys, and she received special enjoyment in the company of her grandchildren. She is survived by her six children, Steve Simpson, Shawnee, Oklahoma, Scotty Simpson, Ponca City, Clyde Simpson, Shawnee, Irene Lawson, Shidler, Oklahoma, Naomi Mills, Shidler, and Mary James of Moore, Oklahoma; two sisters, Naomi Louise Shelly, Okeechobee, Florida and Mary Frances Atkins, Ponca City; 26 grandchildren; 16 great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; one son, William Gerald Simpson Jr.; two infant children; one brother, Scotty Warrior and one sister, Hilda Davis. Prayer services will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday evenings, October 2nd and 3rd at the Ponca Indian Baptist Church. A traditional noon meal will be served on Saturday, October 4, 2008 also at the Ponca Indian Baptist Church with the funeral service to follow at 2 p.m.. The Rev. Louis Headman will preside over the service assisted by Rev. Paul Graham. Burial will in the Ponca Tribal Cemetery under the direction of Grace Memorial Chapel. Casket bearers will be Jerry Morrison, Amos Simpson, Cory Simpson, Steven Simpson, Harvey Atkins and John Simpson.