1912
Mary
2008
Mary Ruth Hartzog
October 12, 1912 — September 26, 2008
Dateline: Harlingen, TX: Rio Hondo/Harlingen: Mary Ruth (Grantham) Hartzog went to be with her Lord Friday afternoon, September 26, 2008 in Harlingen, Texas. Her children mourn her death but celebrate the 95 years of her life and the joy and love she shared with so many people. Ecclesiastes 3 says that there is a time and season for everything and our mother knew that and welcomed eternity with God.
Mary Ruth was born to Andrew Timothy Grantham and Zena Effie (King) Grantham on October 12, 1912, in Salesville, Texas. At age 11, she and her sister Velma and brothers O.L. and Donald moved with their parents to the Rio Hondo area where Mr. Grantham engaged in farming. Mary Ruth graduated from Rio Hondo High School in 1930 and married Arthur Purvis (Mike) Hartzog on June 12, 1931.
Mary Ruth and Mike had six children and the family lived in several different places in the valley, but returned to Rio Hondo in 1946 where Mike worked in the Hartzog family grocery business. Eventually Mike established Mike’s Super Market, and he and Mary Ruth worked hard to create a business that would serve the local community. Mary Ruth was a longtime member of Rio Hondo Baptist Church. In 1996, she moved to Golden Palms in Harlingen, Texas, where she made new friends and cherished those she had previously known in Rio Hondo.
Survivors include son, Arthur Wayne and wife, Beverly J. Hartzog of Brownsville; daughter, Barbara Ruth Hartzog of Austin; daughter, Linda K. Sandell and husband, Larry of Austin; son, Timothy King Hartzog and wife, Lois of Brownsville; son, Jerry Hartzog and wife, Jan of Rio Hondo: her seven grandchildren; Reed W. Hartzog and wife, Blake; Holly Van Herpe and husband, Todd; Dr. Kelly Benet Smith and husband, Dean; Lara Ruth Thompson and husband, Bobby; Chief Petty Officer Timothy Hartzog, Jr. and wife, Sandra; Terry Keith Hartzog and wife, Ashley; Trisha Lynn McDonald and husband, Pace: eleven great-grandchildren. She also leaves a sister-in-law Mildred Grantham, several nieces and nephews and many friends. Preceding her in death are her husband Mike, her daughter Dorothea, her parents, sister Velma Lippincott, and brothers O.L. Grantham and Donald Grantham.
The family will receive friends on Sunday, September 28, 2008 from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM at Buck Ashcraft Funeral Home.
Funeral services will be held at the Rio Hondo Baptist Church in Rio Hondo on Monday, September 29, 2008 at 2:00 PM, with the Rev. Gene Horton officiating. Burial will follow at Mont Meta Memorial Park.
Serving as Pallbearers will be Don Waters, Jay Gutierrez, Bobby Thompson, Dean Smith, Terry Hartzog, Pace McDonald, Reid Hartzog and Todd Van Herpe.
Those desiring to do so may make memorial donations to the Rio Hondo Baptist Church, 400 Bristol, Rio Hondo, Texas 78583.
The Hartzog family would like to give special thanks to Olga and Jay Gutierrez, Josie Longoria, and Maggie Guajardo for the loving care they gave Mother during her special time of need. They are loved.
You are invited to sign the guestbook or leave a condolence at www.buck-ashcraft.com.
Mary Ruth was born to Andrew Timothy Grantham and Zena Effie (King) Grantham on October 12, 1912, in Salesville, Texas. At age 11, she and her sister Velma and brothers O.L. and Donald moved with their parents to the Rio Hondo area where Mr. Grantham engaged in farming. Mary Ruth graduated from Rio Hondo High School in 1930 and married Arthur Purvis (Mike) Hartzog on June 12, 1931.
Mary Ruth and Mike had six children and the family lived in several different places in the valley, but returned to Rio Hondo in 1946 where Mike worked in the Hartzog family grocery business. Eventually Mike established Mike’s Super Market, and he and Mary Ruth worked hard to create a business that would serve the local community. Mary Ruth was a longtime member of Rio Hondo Baptist Church. In 1996, she moved to Golden Palms in Harlingen, Texas, where she made new friends and cherished those she had previously known in Rio Hondo.
Survivors include son, Arthur Wayne and wife, Beverly J. Hartzog of Brownsville; daughter, Barbara Ruth Hartzog of Austin; daughter, Linda K. Sandell and husband, Larry of Austin; son, Timothy King Hartzog and wife, Lois of Brownsville; son, Jerry Hartzog and wife, Jan of Rio Hondo: her seven grandchildren; Reed W. Hartzog and wife, Blake; Holly Van Herpe and husband, Todd; Dr. Kelly Benet Smith and husband, Dean; Lara Ruth Thompson and husband, Bobby; Chief Petty Officer Timothy Hartzog, Jr. and wife, Sandra; Terry Keith Hartzog and wife, Ashley; Trisha Lynn McDonald and husband, Pace: eleven great-grandchildren. She also leaves a sister-in-law Mildred Grantham, several nieces and nephews and many friends. Preceding her in death are her husband Mike, her daughter Dorothea, her parents, sister Velma Lippincott, and brothers O.L. Grantham and Donald Grantham.
The family will receive friends on Sunday, September 28, 2008 from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM at Buck Ashcraft Funeral Home.
Funeral services will be held at the Rio Hondo Baptist Church in Rio Hondo on Monday, September 29, 2008 at 2:00 PM, with the Rev. Gene Horton officiating. Burial will follow at Mont Meta Memorial Park.
Serving as Pallbearers will be Don Waters, Jay Gutierrez, Bobby Thompson, Dean Smith, Terry Hartzog, Pace McDonald, Reid Hartzog and Todd Van Herpe.
Those desiring to do so may make memorial donations to the Rio Hondo Baptist Church, 400 Bristol, Rio Hondo, Texas 78583.
The Hartzog family would like to give special thanks to Olga and Jay Gutierrez, Josie Longoria, and Maggie Guajardo for the loving care they gave Mother during her special time of need. They are loved.
You are invited to sign the guestbook or leave a condolence at www.buck-ashcraft.com.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Mary Ruth Hartzog, please visit our flower store.