Ruth Codrington

Ruth Rives Codrington of Kerrville, Texas, passed away at her home Saturday, surrounded by her children and grandchildren. Ruth, 93, was born in White Hall, Illinois, on April 13, 1912.Ruth came to Texas as a little girl, 8 years old when her parents, Thomas Fredrick and Mary Taylor Rives moved to Weslaco, Texas, in 1920, as part of the land development program of W. E. Stewart Land Company, from which Weslaco got its name. Along with her two younger sisters, Kathryn and Rosemary, Ruth found the trip south on a train filled with their cattle, horses, wagons, saddles, guns, and farminghousehold possessions to be the adventure of a lifetime. Upon arriving at the new homestead, they moved into a single room shack as lumber was unloaded off the train to begin building their new home.She and her family became part of the history of early life in the Rio Grand Valley and prospered as Weslaco grew. Ruth graduated from Weslaco High School as saluatarian in 1929 and left to attend Southwestern University where she met Leroy Howard Buss of Donna, Texas. Leroy and Ruth married in 1931. Ruth filled her life with caring for her four children and helping her community to grow while Leroy read the law, passed the bar exam, and worked to grow his law practice and farming interests. Ruth served as an officer in PTA, Womans Literary Review Club, Methodist Womens Society and circles, and Weslaco Citrus Festival Parade and Style Show. After Leroy passed away in 1953, Ruth returned to college to finish her teaching degree, graduating with honors, and subsequently taught English at Weslaco Junior High School.In 1957, Ruth married James Bryan Speer, Dean of Education, at Pan American College. They moved the family to Edinburg where she once again involved herself in her community, adding to her active community groups: the College Faculty and Wives Group and the P.E.O. When J. B. died in 1961, she formed a scholarship in his name.In 1965, Ruth married Judson C. Friday, long time resident of Weslaco, and returned to live in Weslaco. During this period of her life, she discovered a tiny old building with walls made of cut glass bottle bottoms. Curiosity aroused, she learned it has been an old bottling factory. With the help and support of the community, she turned it into The Worlds Smallest Museum, filling it with early memorabilia pertaining to the earliest days of Weslaco. The building was so tiny that one saw the museum by peeking in the door and windows. Later the museum was moved and grew into the current Weslaco Museum. Ruth also served on the board of trustees of Knapp Memorial Hospital in Weslaco. In 1972 she and Jud made a second home in Kerrville, Texas.After Jud died in 1975, Ruth made Kerrville her primary home, and new friends introduced her to Charles Codrington, a retired engineer. Ruth and Charlie married in 1979, and Ruth continued to be an active member of her community as she strived to incorporate her extended family members. Charlie passed away in 1993. But two more long adventures were ahead for Ruth: in 1994, moving to Jacksonville and Del Ray Beach, both of Florida and returning to Kerrville in 2005.Ruth Codrington was always the epitome of hometown spirit and community support as she moved from being named Queen of the May at Weslaco Junior High School to developing the mass plantings of crepe myrtles in Vicksburg Village, Kerrville. In developing the mass plantings, she expressed her love of trees and flowers shared with her mother. Her mother, Lois Rives, had been responsible for the planting of palm trees presently lining Main Street of Weslaco, Texas. Ruth was a long time member of P.E.O., Delta Delta Delta Sorority, the Methodist Church and its womens organizations, and the Brown Bag Bridge Group. Ruths courage, positive outlook, active participation in her community, and her vision of good everywhere will be missed by her many friends and family.She was preceded in death by her son: Richard Rives Buss and three sisters, Rosemary Hall, Kathryn Wall, and Tommie Gene Lane. Ruth leaves behind to cherish her memory her daughter: Mary Kathryn Buss Risteen and husband Bob of Montgomery Texas two sons: Fred Buss of Kerrville, Texas, and Don Buss and wife Mary Margaret of Galveston, Texas a step daughter: Penny Davis of Galveston, Texas and stepson: Patrick Codrington and wife, Cathy of Houston, Texas grandchildren: Brannon Brook and wife Tracy of Beeville, Texas Elizabeth Buss of San Francisco area, California Lindsey Buss and wife Betina of Silver Springs, Md.. Lisa Kathryn Taylor and husband Steve of Valencia, California Baron Buss of Addison, Texas Dan Davis and wife Pam of San Antonio, Texas Debbie Davis of Austin, Texas and great grandchildren: Jackson Buss of Washington, D.C. Jillian Brook and Corbin Brook of Beeville, Texas and Audrey Davis of San Antonio, Texas. A Memorial Service in Celebration of Ruth Rives Codringtons Life will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, September 9, 2005, at First United Methodist Church in Kerrville Texas.In lieu of flowers, the family has indicated donations can be made to Marthas Table, 2114 14th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20009 Weslaco Museum, 515 South Kansas Avenue, Weslaco, Texas 78596, or P.E.O. Continuing Education Fund, co Lois Rye, 426 Yorktown Blvd., Kerrville, Texas 78028.

---