Ruth Towns Fricke

RUTH MARTHA (TOWNS) FRICKE, a longtime resident of Port Lavaca, Texas, passed away Thursday, February 18, 2010, in Brookshire, Texas, having just celebrated her 90th birthday. The daughter of Thomas and Dora (Merryman) Towns, she was born Rutha Martha (after her grandmother, Rutha Margaret) on February 3, 1920, in Robertson County, Texas. After graduating from Bremond High School in 1938, she went to work for the Justice of the Peace in Franklin, Texas. While employed there, she mailed her birth certificate to Austin, and had them correct the "mistake" made on her first name, legally changing her name to Ruth. Ruth later moved to Webster where she was employed as a waitress in a café. It was here that she met Clinton Louis Fricke. They fell in love and were married April 26, 1941, in Houston. Together, they raised four sons, moving many times over the years to wherever Clinton could find construction work. Their boys were known to say that no matter where they were, their mother could always find a peach switch whenever necessary. In the early 60's, they finally settled in Port Lavaca where they were members of the Alamo Heights Baptist Church. A devoted mother and homemaker, Ruth loved to cook and bake. She enjoyed working in her yard, tending her flower beds, and while her health permitted, she was an active member of her church. Clinton preceded Ruth in death in 1984. Ruth remained in Port Lavaca until her health began to fail in 2008. She then moved to Sherman, Texas to live with her oldest son, Gene, before moving to Brookshire to be near her son, Wayne. Ruth is survived by HER SONS: Gene Fricke and wife, Barbara, of Sherman, TX, Kenneth Wayne Fricke and wife, Donna, of Brookshire, TX and Johnny Fricke and wife, Sharee, of Port Lavaca, TX; GRANDCHILDREN: Donna Durban, Craig Fricke and wife, Prisscilla, April Fricke, Rhett Fricke, Christy Fricke, Brandon Fricke, Weldon Fricke, Jr. and Cindy Fricke; 5 GREAT GRANDCHILDREN; BROTHER: Ray Towns of Baytown, TX; and numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, her son, Weldon Fricke, her husband, Clinton, and brothers, Ferman "Andy" Towns, Claude Towns, Jim Towns, Howard Towns, Charlie Towns and Lee Towns, half-brothers, Alford Towns and Newton Towns, and half-sister, Irene Stephens.