Ruth Evelyn Pringle passed away May 13, 2021 at the age of 90. She had lived in Allen, Texas for more than 60 years. Ruth was born on January 9, 1931 to Leonard Henry and Edith Larue (Henry) Gauger in Rockford, Iowa. She married the late John Philip Pringle on June 13, 1953 in St. Louis, Missouri, and they went on to have four children together. Ruth attended Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa in 1949, and then worked as a draftsperson at Collins Radio in Cedar Rapids, Iowa from 1951-1954. She also worked as an engineer at McDonnell Aircraft in St. Louis, Missouri. After moving to Texas in 1961, Ruth became a math and science teacher for the Allen Independent School District from 1972-1981 and then the Director of the Adult Right to Read Program in Allen from 1982-1992.
Ruth had a long history with Epsilon Sigma Alpha service sorority. She served as both president of her local chapter and a state officer in Iowa, and after moving to Texas, Ruth helped establish Allen’s Theta chapter, serving as their first president. She went on to participate in that organization for many years, serving in a variety of roles. It was perhaps there that Ruth developed her passion for service and philanthropic giving, and she continued to generously contribute both her time and treasure to many organizations throughout her life.
Ruth was a founder of the Allen Public Library, and a member of the Advisory Board for the Allen Public Library from 1976-1980 and 2000-2008, where she served in several roles, including secretary and the chairperson of the endowment fund development committee. She also worked to build the Friends of the Library endowment fund, as well as serve on the Collin County Adult Literacy Council and the Northeast Texas Library System Board. She was also active in the Allen Community Outreach organization.
Ruth was actively involved first in the Disciples of Christ Christian Church in Allen, where she served as the first female Elder there, and later in the First United Methodist Church in Allen. She was a member of the Bradford Society for Children’s Medical Center of Dallas, Friends of Note Allen Philharmonic Orchestra organization, the Allen Retired Educators Association, and Richardson Reviewers. She was a generous donor to Children’s Medical Center of Dallas, MD Anderson Cancer Research Center, and Foundation for Allen Public Schools.
Ruth was recognized for her many contributions to her community, and received a variety of awards over the years, including the Good Citizen Award by the Allen ISD Community Education Advisory Council in 1983, the Advancement of Adult Literacy Award by the Collin County Adult Literacy Council in 1984, the Celebrate Literacy Award by the North Texas Council of the International Reading Association in 1991, Who’s Who of American Women from 2006-2016, the Mayor’s Distinguished Service Award in 2009, Lifetime Friend of the Allen Library award in 2009, a Community Service Award, and the Community Builder Award by the Masonic Grand Lodge of Texas in 2015.
In addition to her community service and philanthropic efforts, Ruth enjoyed reading, playing bridge, genealogy, gardening, and travel.
She is survived by her daughter, Lynne Tinsley and husband, Kevin of Wylie, Texas; daughter, Tamra Kerns and husband, Brian of Austin, Texas; grandchildren, Lyric Hunter, Morgan Tinsley, Landen Kerns, and McKenna Kerns.
She is preceded in death by her husband Jonh Philip Pringle; sons, Mark Alan Pringle and Brian Lee Pringle; brother, Milton Gauger; sister, Norma Velky.
A Celebration of Life service will be held on Saturday, May 29, 2021 at 2:00pm at the First United Methodist Church in Allen. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you consider instead a donation to Friends of the Allen Library endowment fund, the Foundation for Allen Public Schools endowment fund, Allen Community Outreach (ACO), or your favorite charity.