Called to her heavenly home on March 16, 2022, Doris Ruth Capshaw Howell was born on September 27, 1937 in Ponca City, OK to her loving parents Rufus Andrew “Cap” Capshaw, Mina Margarite “Margie”, and big brother Archie Lee. Her father worked for Conoco Oil Company for 21 years before retiring to set up his own real estate business with his wife Margie. Ruth became a “latch key kid” before the term was even used.

Graduating from PoHi in 1955, she went to Oklahoma Agriculture and Mechanical College, which became Oklahoma State University in her sophomore year. That spring, she met an Army Lieutenant from ROTC, Billy Richard Smith, and they were married the next August. Four children and many duty stations later, she and her children returned to make their home in Ponca City. Even though she had said she would never be in real estate, she joined her parents in their business. After her parents’ deaths, she carried on the business as a second generation realtor with her son James, joining as the third generation. She served in most of elected positions on the Oklahoma Board of Realtors as well as the State Education Committee for several years. Furthering her education at the Real Estate Institute, she was the first in Ponca City to earn the Relocation Specialist Designation. She was in real estate for 33 years, and She was North Central Oklahoma Realtor of the Year in 1997.

In 1980, she married Robert O. Bishop, and they were married for 22 years and 24 days when she was widowed by the 2002 ice storm.

She was a lifetime member of First Lutheran Church. As a teenager, she occasionally played the organ for an adult Bible class. She enjoyed helping with the annual Christmas Mart, making items with her mother, helping with sales, and making sanctuary banners.

In 2006, she married Robert G. Howell, who preceded her in death in 2020. She retired in the spring of 2008 and traveled in a fifth wheel for 6.5 years before once more coming back home to Ponca City to stay where she loved the people.

She is preceded in death by her parents, brother and three husbands. She is survived by her son Richard Anthony Capshaw, grandson Christopher, Lainey and great granddaughter Quinn Everly, granddaughter Courtney and husband Seth Graham and great granddaughter Emerson Grace of Dallas, TX; son James Andrew and wife Helen of Ponca City, OK, grandson Ryan and wife Samantha of Denver, CO, granddaughters Nicole of New York, NY, Alaina of Dallas, TX, and Cerena of Stillwater, OK; daughter Margie Ruth Malloy of Fort Walton Beach, FL and grandson Kyle of Columbus, GA; son Steven Randolph and wife Michelle of Parsons, KS, grandson Jacob of Wichita, KS, and granddaughters Abigail of Kansas City, KS and Danielle of Parsons, KS.

Memorial service will be 2pm Monday, March 21, 2022 at the First Lutheran Church of Ponca City, burial will follow at Odd Fellows Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of Trout Funeral Home & Crematory, 505 W Grand Ave, Ponca City, OK 74601.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to Cancer Fund for Leukemia, Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, PO Box 22324, New York, NY 10087 or First Lutheran Church and School, 1101 N 4th St, Ponca City, Oklahoma 74601

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