Ruth Pond (Tulia)

Midland, Texas--Margaret Ruth Roberts Pond, 85, passed away on Saturday, April 11, 2020 at her home in Midland. A private graveside service will be held for family only on Tuesday, April 14, 2020 at Resthaven Memorial Park Cemetery in Midland. Arrangements are under the care of Kornerstone Funeral Directors of Tulia, Texas.

Margaret Ruth Roberts was born on December 10, 1934 in Lincoln County, Oklahoma to Minnie and Ballard Roberts. She was the youngest of 10 children. She was named after her grandmother whom she never knew. At the age of three, she moved with her family to Riverside, California.

She attended Upland College Academy, a private Christian school in Upland, California, where she met Almon Ludlow (Bud) Pond. The two of them were married 10 days after she graduated high school. Bud and Ruth lived in Los Angeles, California for the first two years of marriage, where their first two children, Sandy and Dale were born. Bud and Ruth moved to Chino, California, and Don and the twins, Stanley and Steven, were born in nearby Upland, CA.

One of Ruth’s favorite television shows at the time was “Queen for a Day.” Ruth watched the show often and decided that she could be “Queen for a Day.” She wrote for tickets and went to the show and after the third try, was selected as one of four contestants and won! The show that day was “baby queen” so having Stanley and Steve with her sealed the deal.

In Chino, the family attended the Pilgrim Holiness Church. In 1965 the family moved to Bartlesville, Oklahoma, where Almon (Al) attended Central Pilgrim College (now Oklahoma Wesleyan University). During this time Al went to school fulltime and worked the night shift at TRW Reda Pump Company and Ruth worked at Bartlesville Hospital while the 5 children were in school.

In 1970, after Al’s graduation, the family moved to Midland, Texas. Our family attended First Baptist Church where our family was involved in many ministries and made life-long friendships. In 1980, Al and Ruth moved back to California, where they both worked for TRW. In 1995, Al and Ruth moved back to Midland, TX, where they bought and operated Pond’s Picture Framing shop.

In 2002, Al died of brain cancer. Ruth wrote a note at that time that said “I am so thankful for my church family, my wonderful children and grandchildren who take such good care of me.”

Margaret Ruth Pond is survived by five children, Sandy and Michael Gillett of Midland, TX, Dale and Judy Pond of Tyler, TX, Don Pond and Tammie Cook of Midland, TX, Stanley and Mary Pond of Midland, TX and Steve and Kim Pond of Tulia, TX, one sister, Cleo Irby of Victorville, CA,
22 grandchildren: Amy, Aaron, Andrew, Alex, Brian, Lauren, Erin, Christina, David, James, Marla, Emma, Joel, Leah, Jackson, Jefferson, Judson, Victoria, Wil, Daniel, Steffanee and Jeffrey, 22 great grandchildren: Berkley, Major, Emery Kate, Holden, Jack, Taylor, Alice, Holt, Thatcher, Ellyott, Liam, Camden, Eliza Jo, Jayla, Benjamin, Anna Rose, Briella, Lincoln, Severin, Elliot, Tauren and Charlie and several nieces, nephews and cousins.

Memorials may be made to: FBC Midland Missions Ministry, 2104 W. Louisiana Ave., Midland, Texas 79701.

Online condolences may be made at www.kornerstonefunerals.com.