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Ruth Sandlin Hanks
1921-2021
Ruth Sandlin Hanks passed away peacefully on August 20th, 2021 surrounded by her loving daughters at the age of 99 in Houston, Texas. She was 16 days shy of her 100th birthday!
Ruth was born on September 5th, 1921 in Carrollton, Alabama to Lyda Ruth Upchurch and Dr. Harvey Burton Upchurch. She was a graduate of Sam Houston High School, Class of 1938. She was a member of the first high school drill team in Houston, "The Black Battalion."
Ruth was married to Wiley G. Sandlin, Sr. until his death in 1977. She later married Harvey David Hanks until his passing in 1995. Dave and Ruth moved from Garden Villas (Houston) to Shadow Bay (Lake Conroe/Willis). She was a longstanding member of the Methodist Church.
As a young adult, Ruth worked for Bell Telephone Company. She retired from Continental EMSCO where she had a long and successful career. She was a member of The Bellaire Desk and Derrick Club, an organization which supported secretaries of oil companies, for many years and also served as their President.
Ruth was preceded in death by her parents, spouses, family, and many friends. Left to celebrate her amazing life are her daughters Paula Parker-Krantz (Ellen) and Margaret Chun (Artie), grandchildren Zachary Parker (Kecia) and Kristen Gosnell (Trevor), and great-grandchildren Grayson Gosnell, Sloan Parker, Wren Parker, Dylan Gosnell, and Parker Gosnell.
A special thank you to her caregivers at Home Sweet Home (Alief/Houston), Care 4 You Senior Services (Houston), and The Orchard Park at Southfork (Pearland) for their amazing love and care.
Please join us to celebrate her life on Saturday, September 4th at Forest Park Lawndale Chapel, Houston. Visitation at 10 AM, service at 11 AM. Interment at South Park Cemetery (Pearland).
Facebook Livestream of service: https://www.facebook.com/ForestParkLawndale/
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the charity of your choice in memory of Ruth Sandlin Hanks.