Obituary of Florence May Ruegg

Watch the Tribute Florence May Ruegg May 26, 1920 - August 23, 2010 Graveside funeral services for Florence May Ruegg ,90, of Hobbs, NM, formerly of Robstown, TX, will be held on Saturday, August 28, 2010 at Memorial Park Cemetery in Robstown, Texas at 10:00 am CST with burial following. Visitation will be Friday, August 27, 2010 at First United Methodist Church, 107 North 1st in Robstown from 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm. Services are being conducted by Kirby-Smith-Rogers Funeral Home. Florence was born in Clarksville, TX on May 26, 1920 to T.C. and Elsie (Boles) Gallagher and passed away on August 23, 2010 in Hobbs, NM. She moved to Chapman Ranch where she started school and then moved to Robstown, TX graduating from Robstown High School. She attended North Texas State Teachers College in Denton where she majored in Home Economics, then attended Texas A & I College in Kingsville, TX. When her children were in college she returned to Texas A & I Univ. and earned her B.S. in Elementary Education. She taught for many years in the Migrant Education Program , teaching personal hygiene as well as the three R’s. After receiving her degree, she taught elementary school for many years. She returned to the University of Texas to get her Library Certification and finished her career of over 30 years as an elementary librarian. After retiring from teaching she obtained her Real Estate license and became a Broker and was active in the real estate and rental business. She enjoyed raising a large garden and sharing with all of her family and friends. After her husband’s death, she took over his Quarter Horse breeding program and raised horses until her health gave out. She was an artist, master gardener, teacher, real estate agent and horse breeder and a wonderful cook. She raised her two children alone while her husband was in the Philippines and Japan during and after WWII. She married Samuel E. Ruegg Sr. on November 10, 1940 and was a proud farmer’s wife for 54 years. She raised two children, Sam Ruegg Jr. of Robstown, TX and wife Alice Ruegg of Hallsville, TX and Patricia and husband John Bissett of Lovington, NM. She is survived by six grandchildren: Tex and wife Penny Ruegg of Sherman, TX; Will Ruegg of Hallsville, TX; Andrew and wife Heather Ruegg of Tucson, AZ; Kate (Ruegg) and husband Zack Marshall of Longview, TX; Shawn and husband Trey North of Lovington, NM and Cody and wife Chrystal Bissett of Midland, TX. Five great-grandchildren: Jacob Ruegg, Brett and Bryce North and Cole and Reid Bissett and many nieces and nephews. She was a member of Zeta Tau Alpha Sorority, Am. Quarter Horse Assoc. and Eliad Temple #134 Daughters of the Nile. She was awarded for 25 years of service to the Children of the Shriner’s Hospitals. She was a life-long member of First United Methodist Church of Robstown, TX. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, two brothers: Ted and Frank Gallagher and a nephew, Ted Gallagher III. Condolences may be sent to www.kirbysmithrogers.com.