Ellen Ruth Helton, "Ellen Ruth", was born January 13, 1928, at Hugo, Oklahoma, to Rachel Linkswiler Cline and Rufus Cline. She passed away January 22, 2021, at age 93, in Texas. Ellen graduated high school at age sixteen, having been promoted by her teachers because of her extraordinary scholastic achievements. She married Loyd Cecil Helton on July 15, 1944. They farmed and ranched in the Antlers-Hugo area and Ellen was also employed in retail and clerical positions. She was the volunteer Ombudsman for the Choctaw Nation Nursing Home in Antlers for a number of years after retirement. She had a beautiful alto voice and as a young person sang specials in church with her mother. She enjoyed reading, gardening and crochet and was an advanced seamstress. Everyone loved to be invited to one of her delicious meals. Boys in the community who worked in the fields for Ellen and Loyd referred to her as "Mama". Ellen and Loyd enjoyed having their grandchildren for extended summer visits. She was a member of the Antlers Church of Christ and enjoyed the Women's Bible Class.
Ellen was preceded in death by her parents, her husband of fifty-nine years, Loyd Cecil Helton, who passed away in 2003, her younger brother, Pastor Garey Cline, of Tulsa, who passed away in August, 2020. She is survived by four daughters, Ann Helton, June Helton Hyde, Janet Helton Semrad and Kerri Helton Lewis; her brother, Al Cline and wife Mary of California; sister-in-law Wilma Cline of Tulsa; four grandchildren, four great grandchildren, three great-great grandchildren, numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
Arrangements are through Serenity Funeral Service in Antlers, Oklahoma. A memorial service for Ellen will be held in the spring in Antlers.
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