in Memory of Ruth Rodgers Cavender

Ruth Rodgers Cavender beloved wife, mother, and grandmother passed away on February 10, 2024, at the age of 89, in San Antonio, Texas. Ruth was born on November 6, 1934, to Bernice Holland and John Rodgers at the Georgia Baptist Hospital in Atlanta, Georgia. She is preceded in death by her infant son Jeffery Todd, husband Edward L. Cavender, brother John A. Rodgers and sisters Jeanne Rodgers and Edith Simmons. Her spirit is carried on by her son Mark and wife Molly Cavender of San Antonio, Texas, daughter Karen and husband Doug Evans of Highlands Ranch, Colorado, daughter Sharon and husband Gabriel Lozano of Half Moon Bay, California, grandchildren Dr. Christine Hernandez and husband Zachery, James, and Emily Cavender; Chandler, Carson, and Ella Evans; and Gabrielle Lozano. She is also survived by her many nieces and nephews in the Atlanta area.

Ruth was a longtime resident of Alamogordo, New Mexico where she met her husband of almost 63 years teaching school at Holloman Air Force Base Elementary School. She taught school in New Mexico for 32 years. She loved working with kids. She was determined that they master the skills she was teaching, and even tutored some at home.

Ruth was a first-generation college graduate. In 1957 she earned a BA in Sacred Music from Carson-Newman College in Jefferson City, Tennessee. She was a member of the touring choir, Calliopean Literary Society, Baptist Student Union, Library and German clubs, and served as a summer missionary.

Ruth studied music at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky in 1957-1958. She earned additional graduate education credits from Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. Ruth taught school for two years in Marietta, Georgia before setting off on her own and moving to New Mexico. She attended New Mexico State University in Las Cruces and received a master's degree in education with an emphasis in reading.

Ruth became a Christian at nine years old and was very involved in her church, singing in the choir, teaching Sunday school, and volunteering in the nursery. She was a member of Rosewood Baptist Church in Columbia South Carolina, Roswell Street Baptist Church in Marietta, Georgia, First Baptist Church, and Bethel Baptist Church in Alamogordo, New Mexico, and First Baptist Church of Helotes, Texas.

Ruth was a caregiver who helped senior citizens with their finances and taxes and visited friends in the hospital. She loved Christmas, and hosted dinner parties for people who had no place to go. She made Christmas candies and desserts. We always had a fruit cake in the freezer when friends dropped by for a game of dominos.

In 2016 Ruth and Edd moved to Helotes, Texas to be closer to their son. They joined Helotes Baptist Church and later moved to Adante Independent Senior Living community.

She will be dearly missed but we know we will meet again in heaven.

Words of remembrance: Saturday, February 17, 2023, 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM

First Baptist Church, 14889 Old Bandera Road, Helotes, TX 78023