Gorman, Ruth Maurine Howe Ruth Maurine Howe Gorman, 95, passed away Tuesday, November 7, 2006, in Longview, Texas, after a long battle with cancer. Services for Ruth will be 2 p.m. Friday, November 10, 2006, in the chapel of Rader Funeral Home, 1617 Judson Road, with the Reverend Jim Lewis officiating. Interment will follow in Memory Park Cemetery. Ruth was born September 13, 1911, in Nickerson, Kansas, the daughter of the Reverend David James Howe and Edith Hanna Rowald Howe. While growing up, Ruth and her family were actively involved in church life, and she often assisted her father with the singing at church functions. During her childhood, Ruth lived in Illinois, Wisconsin, and Oregon. She attended Oregon State University on a voice and drama scholarship. While there, she joined Chi Omega sorority, was active in campus life, and won recognition for her parts in plays and operettas. The depression caused Ruth's family to return to the Midwest, where she later met and married James Francis "Jim" Gorman of St. Louis, Missouri. They resided there for a few years, and their first daughter, Kathlyn Howe Gorman, was born in St. Louis, Missouri. During World War II, the Gormans settled in Southern California, where their daughter, Sharon Howe Gorman, was born. Ruth was extremely active in South Bay Area civic, social, school, and charity organizations. She was a leader in the Girl Scouts of America and was awarded a lifetime membership. She also served as president and was given a lifetime membership to the Parent Teachers Association. Among her many activities were the following: president of Children's Hospital Auxiliary, which later became a Junior League, chairman of Mother's March of Dimes, director of Manhattan Beach Community Chest, director of Safety Day Campaign, committeeman of City Employees Pension Fund, and first chairman of Fun Fair Committee. The thing that she was most proud of was being the first woman in Southern California to be elected to serve on a city council. In 1952, she became a member of the Manhattan Beach City Council. She was to become the mayor of the city, but her husband's company transferred him to Dallas, Texas, and she had to resign her position. The Manhattan Beach City Council and Chamber of Commerce honored her with testimonials at this time. In 1956, the family moved to Dallas, Texas, where Ruth became involved with many organizations and activities. The year of 1961 brought the family to Longview, Texas, where they opened Gorman Motors Inc., a Volkswagen dealership. A few years later, Ruth's sister, Florence Howe McCracken and her husband, C.B. McCracken, joined in a partnership with the Gormans, and changed the name of the business to Gorman-McCracken Volkswagen, Inc. After taking on the Mazda franchise, it became Gorman-McCracken Volkswagen-Mazda, Inc. Ruth served at various offices through the years and the family operated this business for 42 years before selling it. When Ruth came to Longview, she quickly became active in many aspects of the community. She joined First Christian Church, where she sang in the choir. She was a member ofthe Pinecrest Country Club and its Women's Golf Association, the Chi Omega Alumni group, the Daughters of the American Revolution, The Garden Study Club, The Birthday Club, and several bridge groups. Some may remember Ruth's rendition of "Aunt Eller" in the Lion's Club production of "Oklahoma." She was one of the founding members of the Longview Community Theater and served on its board for many years. She was in "Barefoot in the Park," "Arsenic and Old Lace," and several productions by that group. After her husband's death in 1971, she took his place on the Salvation Army Advisory Board. They later honored her with a lifetime membership for her years of service. Ruth lived a full life and was devoted to her family. She liked to travel and crossed the Atlantic numerous times over the past 45 years. She loved singing, music, bridge, golf, bird watching, and drama. She was known to be an independent and dependable woman. Her husband, James Francis Gorman; her grandson, Edward Oliver "Rusty" Russell III; and all of her siblings, Florence E. Howe-McCracken, Daniel L. Howe, and Harold M. Howe, preceded her in death. Ruth is survived by her two daughters and their husbands, Kathlyn Howe Gorman Russell and Edward Oliver Russell Jr. of Longview, and Sharon Howe Gorman Gredler and Dr. Erich Gredler of Vienna, Austria; and grandchildren, Kimberly Ann Russell Brown, Jana M. Russell, of Longview, Texas, Dr. James Erich Gredler and his wife, Dr. Michaela Gredler, and Jennifer Gredler, all of Austria. Ruth was blessed with four great- grandchildren, Ryan Oliver Russell, Ruth Anne Russell, and Gorman Elizabeth Brown, all of Longview, and Theresa Maria Gredler of Austria. The family wishes to extend their appreciation and thanks to the wonderful staff at Alpine House and to the Heart'sWay Hospice team for the excellent and loving care they provided Ruth. The family suggests memorial contributions be made to First Christian Church, the Salvation Army, Heart'sWay Hospice, or the charity of your choice. The family will receive friends from 5-7 p.m. Thursday evening, November 9, 2006, at the funeral home. A memorial guestbook may be signed online at www.raderfh.com. Published in the Longview News-Journal on 11/9/2006. ------------------ Gorman, Ruth Maurine Howe Ruth Maurine Howe Gorman, 95, passed away Tuesday, November 7, 2006, in Longview, Texas, after a long battle with cancer. Services for Ruth will be 2 p.m. Friday, November 10, 2006, in the chapel of Rader Funeral Home, 1617 Judson Road, with the Reverend Jim Lewis officiating. Interment will follow in Memory Park Cemetery. Ruth was born September 13, 1911, in Nickerson, Kansas, the daughter of the Reverend David James Howe and Edith Hanna Rowald Howe. While growing up, Ruth and her family were actively involved in church life, and she often assisted her father with the singing at church functions. During her childhood, Ruth lived in Illinois, Wisconsin, and Oregon. She attended Oregon State University on a voice and drama scholarship. While there, she joined Chi Omega sorority, was active in campus life, and won recognition for her parts in plays and operettas. The depression caused Ruth's family to return to the Midwest, where she later met and married James Francis "Jim" Gorman of St. Louis, Missouri. They resided there for a few years, and their first daughter, Kathlyn Howe Gorman, was born in St. Louis, Missouri. During World War II, the Gormans settled in Southern California, where their daughter, Sharon Howe Gorman, was born. Ruth was extremely active in South Bay Area civic, social, school, and charity organizations. She was a leader in the Girl Scouts of America and was awarded a lifetime membership. She also served as president and was given a lifetime membership to the Parent Teachers Association. Among her many activities were the following: president of Children's Hospital Auxiliary, which later became a Junior League, chairman of Mother's March of Dimes, director of Manhattan Beach Community Chest, director of Safety Day Campaign, committeeman of City Employees Pension Fund, and first chairman of Fun Fair Committee. The thing that she was most proud of was being the first woman in Southern California to be elected to serve on a city council. In 1952, she became a member of the Manhattan Beach City Council. She was to become the mayor of the city, but her husband's company transferred him to Dallas, Texas, and she had to resign her position. The Manhattan Beach City Council and Chamber of Commerce honored her with testimonials at this time. In 1956, the family moved to Dallas, Texas, where Ruth became involved with many organizations and activities. The year of 1961 brought the family to Longview, Texas, where they opened Gorman Motors Inc., a Volkswagen dealership. A few years later, Ruth's sister, Florence Howe McCracken and her husband, C.B. McCracken, joined in a partnership with the Gormans, and changed the name of the business to Gorman-McCracken Volkswagen, Inc. After taking on the Mazda franchise, it became Gorman-McCracken Volkswagen-Mazda, Inc. Ruth served at various offices through the years and the family operated this business for 42 years before selling it. When Ruth came to Longview, she quickly became active in many aspects of the community. She joined First Christian Church, where she sang in the choir. She was a member of the Pinecrest Country Club and its Women's Golf Association, the Chi Omega Alumni group, the Daughters of the American Revolution, The Garden Study Club, The Birthday Club, and several bridge groups. Some may remember Ruth's rendition of "Aunt Eller" in the Lion's Club production of "Oklahoma." She was one of the founding members of the Longview Community Theater and served on its board for many years. She was in "Barefoot in the Park," "Arsenic and Old Lace," and several productions by that group. After her husband's death in 1971, she took his place on the Salvation Army Advisory Board. They later honored her with a lifetime membership for her years of service. Ruth lived a full life and was devoted to her family. She liked to travel and crossed the Atlantic numerous times over the past 45 years. She loved singing, music, bridge, golf, bird watching, and drama. She was known to be an independent and dependable woman. Her husband, James Francis Gorman; her grandson, Edward Oliver "Rusty" Russell III; and all of her siblings, Florence E. Howe-McCracken, Daniel L. Howe, and Harold M. Howe, preceded her in death. Ruth is survived by her two daughters and their husbands, Kathlyn Howe Gorman Russell and Edward Oliver Russell Jr. of Longview, and Sharon Howe Gorman Gredler and Dr. Erich Gredler of Vienna, Austria; and grandchildren, Kimberly Ann Russell Brown, Jana M. Russell, of Longview, Texas, Dr. James Erich Gredler and his wife, Dr. Michaela Gredler, and Jennifer Gredler, all of Austria. Ruth was blessed with four great-grandchildren, Ryan Oliver Russell, Ruth Anne Russell, and Gorman Elizabeth Brown, all of Longview, and Theresa Maria Gredler of Austria. The family wishes to extend their appreciation and thanks to the wonderful staff at Alpine House and to the Heart'sWay Hospice team for the excellent and loving care they provided Ruth. The family suggests memorial contributions be made to First Christian Church, the Salvation Army, Heart'sWay Hospice, or the charity of your choice. The family received friends from 5-7 p.m. Thursday evening, November 9, 2006, at the funeral home. A memorial guestbook may be signed online at www.raderfh.com. Published in the Longview News-Journal on 11/10/2006.