Virginia Danklefs

Virginia Ruth Shipman McDonald Barbee Danklefs was born March 6, 1920 in Caddo County, Oklahoma. Ruth passed on July 4, 2018 in Waco TX. Chaplain Danny Tominson officiating.  She was the daughter of Charlie Bro Shipman and Cena Ollie Hall Shipman. .She was adopted to George L. McDonald and Anna E. McAllister McDonald due to her mother's illness.  She attended school to the 8th grade in Caddo County Ok. She met and married Alfred Pershing Barbee and they moved to Portales, New Mexico and raised their three daughters, Carolyn Sue, Wanda Lou, and Linda Janell.  Ruth later married Paul Danklefs. In 1968 she moved to Waco, Texas where she was a retail sales clerk and caregiver.  She loved her gardens, time with family, friends and pets.  She was preceded in death by both sets of parents, both husbands and  daughter Wanda Loue Young, brothers Charlie and Ferlin Shipman, sister Opal Shipman Hubbard and adopted sisters Grace Harris Snyder and Ola Harris Updegrove.

She is survived by daughters Carolyn Sue Brown and Linda and Husband Darrell Wilhite,  four Grandchildren, seven Great Grandchildren, two step Grand Children and even great great Grandchildren. Ruth's special friends were Frank and Stella Slaughter .  The family extends special thanks to Dr. Loden and Traci Mathis and Providence Hospice Staff for their outstanding care.  In Lieu of flowers send donations to Commission for the Blind, 4400-B Shoal Creek Blvd, Austin, Texas 78756-3213.

She loved her God

She loved her Girls

She loved her Father

She sacrificed everything to give them a roof over their heads whenever they came to her in need. She loved her flower garden, but did vegetable gardening, and canning to keep food on the table no matter how humble.  Her 8th grade education and hard work was all she could depend on to get her bills paid.

From selling donuts, to helping a handicapped man and house cleaning for his wife, scrubbing floors, waitressing even planting acres of sweet potatoes seating on the back of the tractor pulling machine.  She worked in a Drug Store and a Donut Store in North Waco, Texas.  Ruth worked at whatever jobs she could find and even ironing by the piece, so birthday and Christmas gifts were not forgotten for her girls and grandchildren.

Favorite verse: Psalms 23 Lord is my Shephard

Songs: Sweet Hour of Prayer and Whispering Hope