Ruth Jean Pottillo

Ruth Jean Pottillo was born to Bishop and Priscilla Goosby on October 20, 1920, Mangum, Oklahoma. She was the third of six children, two brothers and three sisters. Ruth was called “Sis” by her father and siblings.She and her sister Juanita were reared by her their father’s sister, Eudora Ragsdale in Dallas, Texas and worshipped at the Boll Street A.M.E. Church. Ruth graduated from Booker T. Washington High School in Dallas and continued her studies at Texas College (an HBCU supported by the United Methodist Church) in Tyler, Texas. There she was an honor student and became a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated.While teaching Algebra in Altus, Oklahoma, she met her beloved husband, Melvin D. Pottillo, who was stationed at the U.S. Army Air-Force base at Altus, Oklahoma. They were in love from the moment they met and that love continued forty-eight years until his passing on February 14, 1991(Valentine’s Day). God blessed them with three sons and two daughters.The two of them, along with their five children, affiliated with the Milton Avenue United Methodist Church on a Palm Sunday in the early sixties under the Pastorate of the late Reverend James H. Wooden. During her her membership at Milton Avenue, she was blessed to have other great ministers leading her in her spiritual walk; the Reverends Wesley E. Kelley, Lewis I. Keene and Tina Miles. Ruth affiliated with the Eastern United Methodist Church under the pastorate of Reverend Constance C.Smith on August 3, 1997 and joined the Sanctuary Choir immediately Music has always been very dear to her. She sang on the Sanctuary Choir and the Choraleers at Milton. At Milton Avenue, she served in various capacities. Secretary of the United Methodist Women and the Administrative Board; Chaplain and Co-treasurer of the Retired Committee. At Eastern, she loved helping in the Soup Kitchen, the Worship and Praise Committee, the Sanctuary Choir (secretary) and the United Methodist Women.She was sweet and gentle and had a ready smile and a willing heart for listening and assisting anyone who needed help. She liked to read and was supplied with many books by her children. Reading the Bible was dear to her. She found working complex crossword puzzles enjoyable and educational. She loved taking pictures of people, animals, and anything that was interesting or entertaining. She never seemed to have enough plants and flowers. She dearly loved her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren as well as everyone else’s children. They adored her.After working in the home for twenty-five years raising children, she became employed by the Defense Department of Ft. Holabird and retired in 1983 after 17 years of service. She retired when her beloved husband, Melvin retied from Bethlehem Steel following thirty-two years of employment where he was a foreman most of those years. They cherished every moment together and delighted in big family gatherings.She is predeceased by her husband Melvin D.Pottillo, Sr., sons Melvin D.Pottillo, Jr. and David E.Pottillo, daughter Linda C.Pottillo and four of her brothers and sistersRuth leaves to cherish her memory; son, Willie D. (Gayle); daughter, Patricia Wilkins (Dr. Cletus, Jr.); five grandsons, Patrick Pottillo (Amy), Christopher Pottillo (Tamara), Cletus W.Wilkins, III (Karena), Virgil Pottillo (Nicole), Marcus Portillo; three granddaughters, Nicole Williams (Jeffrey), Erica Wilkins, Tameka Cassel; twelve great grandchildren, Christopher Pottillo, Jr., Dominick Cassel, Autumn Pottillo, Chloe Pottillo, Camille Pottillo, Chase Pottillo, Jeffrey Williams, Jr., Jaden Williams, Camden Pottillo, Maria Pottillo, Akeira Helluns, Micha Wilkins; daughter-in-law, Donna Pottillo(Melvin D.Jr.,deceased) sister, Vera Campbell(Oscar) of Las Vegas, Nevada; and a host of other relatives and dear friends including Mrs. Odessa Tillman, Mrs. Evelyn

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Ruth Jean Pottillo

October 20, 1920 - August 28, 2009