Ruth Dunlap

Ruth Delores (Lawson) Dunlap was born October 6, 1935, to the late Joseph Franklin Lawson and Leoma Grace (Barr) Lawson. She departed this life to be with our Lord and Savior on April 7, 2021. She was 85 years, 6 months, and 1 day of age.

Ruth grew up in the Green Mountain area, one of five children. With the help of her sister-in-law, Shirley, Ruth eloped with Ralph Dunlap on February 28, 1956, in Norwood, Missouri. One daughter, Shirley Ruth, was born to this union.

Ralph and Ruth spent most of their married life in Norwood, except for a few years spent in Davenport, Iowa. Ruth babysat in their home for many years. She also ran the Norwood branch of the Wright County Library for several years. Ruth loved to read, especially anything by or about Laura Ingalls Wilder.

Ruth never got a driver’s license. She would laughingly tell the story of how Ralph’s grandma, Ida Roadlander, tried to teach her how to drive, and Ruth ran over a bunch of chickens.

Ruth was saved and baptized at a young age. Over the years, Ruth attended many different churches. She went with friends to churches of many different denominations. Ruth loved God and prayed about everything. She also prayed for her family and friends regularly. We can take comfort in knowing that she knew Jesus as her Lord and Savior.

Besides her parents, Ruth was preceded in death by her husband, Ralph Dunlap, and three brothers, Roy Lawson, Billy Lawson, and Franklin Lawson.

She is survived by her daughter, Shirley Sartor and her husband, Danny, of Mountain Grove, Missouri, one sister, Edith Wills of Sparta, Missouri, four grandchildren, Melissa and her husband, Derek, Michael, Danny and his wife, Kelli, and Levi, four great-grandchildren, Jacob, Arabelle, Haylee, and Easton, four step-great-grandchildren, Seth, Conner, Audrey, and Alyvia, and other extended family and friends who will miss her.