Lois Ruth Heffington

Lois Ruth (Gerber) Heffington passed away peacefully in Graham, TX, on April 10, 2025 at the age of 86. She was born in Peoria, Illinois in 1938 to the late George and Cathryn (Gill) Gerber. Her early years were spent in Peoria, Illinois and Hannibal, Missouri. The family moved to Colorado, and Ruth graduated from Colorado High School, in Colorado Springs, CO in 1956. She attended Oklahoma Baptist University for one year, then transferred to Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene, TX, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Education in 1960. Teaching and helping children were a lifelong dream for her.

Ruth married Tom Heffington in Abilene, TX in 1959 and they both taught at schools in Knox City, TX, and Akron, Colorado before coming to Abilene where Ruth taught at Dyess Air Force Base. The family moved to Graham in 1975 where Tom was the Jr. High band director (and later Jr. High vice principal), while Ruth taught in various grades, spending 18 years in the classroom in multiple towns and cities. After earning a Master's in Library Science from Texas Women's University, she was a school librarian in Graham at all levels for 16 years.

She was a member of the First Baptist Church of Graham, where she taught Sunday School, sang in the choir, played handbells, and worked in the church library. She was a former member of Delta Kappa Gamma, Texas State Teachers Association, Texas Retired Teachers, American Library Association, Texas Library Association, and the Texas Association of School Librarians.

She is survived by her daughter, Holly Camp and husband Jeff of Graham; son, Chuck Heffington and wife Cathy of Aledo, TX; grandsons, Mason and Jacob Camp, granddaughter Janet Vath and husband Josh of Garden City, NY and three great-grandchildren, Jude, Jase, and Jolie Vath. She is also survived by a brother, Joe Gerber and wife Linda of Benbrook, nephew, Mark Gerber, wife Sherry and family of Dublin, TX, nephew, Gary Gerber, wife Linda and family of Macon, GA, a niece, Christy Haubegger of Los Angeles, CA.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, Tom Heffington, in 2000, sister-in-law, Ann (Heffington) Haubegger, brother-in-law, David Haubegger, and nephew, David (Bubba) Haubegger.

The family would like to thank Elison Assisted Living of Graham and Solaris Healthcare of Graham for their support and help during Ruth's stay. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to a charity of their choosing. Graveside service will be Tuesday, April 15, 2025 at 2 p.m. in Pioneer Cemetery in Graham, TX under the direction of Morrison Funeral Home.