Ruby Lee GODWIN

Ruby
August 26, 1920 - September 4, 2017

Jack
January 21, 1922 - July 11, 1989

Wed: July 3, 1954

OBITUARY
After having read and stockpiled the El Dorado News Times for many years and turning first to the Obituary section each morning, Ruby Lee Funderburg-Callaway-Godwin is now posted! Ruby, a Christian since 1935, transitioned from her earthly life on September 4, 2017 to meet God in Heaven and has been reunited with her friends and family who predeceased her. Ruby’s Pentacostal mother must have “shouted and ran the aisles” at the sight of her arrival. Ruby was born at home, August 26, 1920 in the Peytonville, Arkansas community near Ashdown as the seventh of eight children to James William and Daisy Dee Cunningham-Funderburg. Only three of these would live past 21 years of age; Ed Funderburg, herself and Daisy Funderburg-Lamb-Brown. Ruby was raised on a “share-cropped” farm and worshipped at Blackerby-Hopewell Church, where her mother taught a children’s Sunday School “card” class. With her father, having died when she was 15 years old, she learned to help care of her family. She grew up knowing how to “handle” a team of mules, which would be beneficial training considering her two future sons. Ruby graduated from Ashdown High School, where she was Guard on the Varsity Girls Basketball Team and met the first love of her life, WJ Callaway, at a church service. They ultimately married and lived in San Antonio, TX and La Crosse, Wisconsin while WJ was in service during World War II. After his Army Company was “shipped out”, Ruby returned to Texarkana, Arkansas, where she ultimately received word from the War Dept that WJ was killed in action. Becoming a widow at 24, her father-in-law, Will “Pop” Callaway, asked her if she would like to operate a store and after she purchased property, he built her a home and neighborhood store “Callaway Grocery”. She owned and operated this store for approximately 10 years. She would meet her future husband, Jack Godwin, while he was employed as a civil engineer overseeing construction of the Corps of Engineer’s designed Wright-Patman Dam, known as the Texarkana Dam at that time. They dated and ultimately married on July 3, 1954 at County Avenue Baptist Church in Texarkana, Arkansas, across the street from her store and home. She soon sold her store and home, and moved to El Dorado, where Jack had bought Peppard Engineering, ultimately becoming Godwin Engineering.
Living in El Dorado, she joined Immanuel Baptist Church and enjoyed serving God in many capacities. She was an active member of WMU, attending conferences, mission trips, organizing benevolent ministry meals to families during the loss of a loved one … and thus the opportunity to sample each dessert that arrived. But most of all, she enjoyed teaching 2nd Grade Sunday School, having taught for 44 years until she was 90 years old. In service to God, she made many lifelong friends at churches and in the communities where she lived. By the time that Ruby and Jack Sr. married, their doctor shared with them that at the age they were (33 and 34), if they were going to have children, they had better get started. Ruby enjoyed sharing that they got married in 1954, designed and built their home in 1955, had Jack Jr in 1956 and Elbert in 1957! She took great pride in her home, neighborhood, her homemaking ability and seeing that her boys achieved and became the best they could be, hopefully able to contribute to society! Along with attending to each of her sons’ every need and most wants, Ruby also made sure that her primary goal was to have her boys “in church every time the doors were opened”. She knew that she would need help “raising” these two and would count on her Church Family and neighbors to help in their Christian formation. Ruby was a homemaker, served as Homeroom Mom during her boy’s elementary years, a Cub Scout Den Mother, commodante of piano lessons, opened up her kitchen for Jack and Elbert to cook and sent the boys with their Dad to the farm on weekends for her to try to retain her sanity. Ruby's example of devotion to God, her family and friends was evident throughout her long life and she was blessed and we pray a blessing to others.
She is survived by two children, Jack C. Godwin, Jr (Joy), and Elbert Godwin; five grandchildren, Elijah Godwin; Crystal Godwin-Hough (Nathan); Nikki Godwin-Ranta (Rylan), Katie Godwin, and Brittany Godwin, and Julie Godwin, Mother to Elbert’s Children, and a host of beloved nephews and nieces.
Visitation will be held from 9:00 to 11:00, Saturday September 9th at Young's.
Funeral services will be, Saturday, September 9th at 11 a.m., at Young’s Funeral Home Chapel with Pastor Jimmy Meek and Sister Kay Ruddell officiating. Burial will follow at Arlington Cemetery under the direction of Young's Funeral Home.
In addition, the family would like to express their appreciation to Timberlane Health & Rehab caregivers, who lovingly sustained her in her final years. The family would also like to express appreciation to Life Touch Hospice for care during her final days.
Memorials may be made to Immanuel Baptist Church Building Fund or Life Touch Hospice.

Contributed on 2/22/20 by debbraszymanski
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Record #: 1299283

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