Bob And Ruth Bartley

Ruth Maxine Tripp Bartley of Seymour passed away Saturday, December 12, 2020 at the age of 81.  Her husband, Robert Harold Bartley also of Seymour left this earth on Tuesday, December 15, 2020 at the age of 86.

The celebration of their lives and memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, March 27, 2021 at First Baptist Church in Seymour, Texas officiated by Rev. Tommy Culwell, under the direction of Archer Funeral Home.

Ruth was born in Norfolk, Virginia to Albert Elsworth Tripp and Susan Rebecca Huckins Tripp on August 24, 1939.  She attended secondary schools in Rhode Island and Pensacola, Florida. She met a young Navy pilot while living in Pensacola and married that handsome officer. Ruth raised her 4 children at Naval stations across the United States. She had a lifelong career as a master homemaker and actively served the churches she was a member of in all their duty stations.

Bob was born to Orvin Hayes Bartley and Ermal Norine Rosenbaum Bartley on June 5, 1934 in Chicago, Illinois. He was the valedictorian of his class in Seymour, Texas and later earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Rice University. He joined the United States Navy and attended Officer Candidate School successfully becoming a Navy pilot and retiring from the Navy as a Commander. Once he retired from the Navy, he became a registered land surveyor which was his active profession with plans to fully retire at the end of December 2020 at the age of 86.

Ruth was the giver of the greatest gifts:  Jesus Christ, herself, her home, and all earthly possessions.  She had the gifts of service and hospitality, she loved deeply and graciously, she was a grace extender to many.  Bob was an honorable man who had the gift of doing whatever Ruth wanted, financing her gifts, supporting her, and working alongside her.  You would rarely see Ruth without Bob and vice versa.  Ruth was always the comedian and Bob was always the straight man to her comedy. Bob’s gifts also included generosity, wisdom, and discernment. His generosity was led by the Holy Spirit and Ruth’s ever present prodding. Together they worked hard for the Kingdom of God.

Bob and Ruth are survived by: son Robert Harold Bartley, Jr. and wife Sheree of Oviedo, Florida; son Jonathan Hayes Bartley and wife Jana of Etowah, Tennessee; daughter Rebecca Thornhill and husband Bruce of Wichita Falls, Texas; daughter Elizabeth Helton and husband Wayne of Grand Prairie, Texas. They were proud to be Grandmother and GrandBob to their 9 grandchildren: Doug, Stacie, Jessica, Jeralyn, Kami, Justin, Katelyn, Nathan, and Hallie Ruth; and 10 great-grandchildren: Makenzie, Ariana, Eli, Airalyn, Aiden, Emma, Will, Abigail, Jeremiah, and Ruth Ann.  Ruth is survived by brothers Donald Tripp and James Tripp (Bonnie) and one sister Alta Johansen all of Pensacola, Florida. Bob is survived by brother Don Bartley (Mary) of Tyler, Texas.  They are also remembered by numerous nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be from 6:00 until 7:00 p.m., Friday at the funeral home.

The family suggests memorials be made to the First Baptist Church of Seymour to support the Women’s Ministry, the Deacon Benevolence Fund, or to Operation Christmas Child to continue the ministries they served.