Ruthie G. Frye

Ruth Alice Green Frye was born July 3, 1926, in Casper, Wyoming, to Custis Roe Green and Dorothy Prudence Ustick Green. The family moved briefly to Rocky Ford and then made their home in La Junta. Ruthie graduated from La Junta high School and attended Otero Junior. College. She married her 8th grade sweetheart, Bill Frye, when they were both still eighteen years old while Bill was stationed in the navy at Bremerton, Washington, in 1944.

During World War II as a young bride, Ruthie worked at several naval hospitals. Oregon Naval Hospital, Oregon State University, and Medford, Oregon Naval Hospital. In March of 1946, they returned to La Junta where Bill completed Otero Jr. College and Ruthie worked for a short time for Otero County Abstract. In 1948, they moved to Chicago where Bill completed Mortuary Science School and Ruthie worked in the General Electric Diesel Manufacturing Plant as La Grange, Illinois. They returned to La Junta in 1949, went into business with Ruthie’s father and built their new home at 15 Western Ave., where they lived for forty one years.

Ruthie and Bill had six children. When the kids were little Ruthie helped Bill, and both sets of parents with their rentals and was able to stay at home with the children. When all six children were in school, Ruthie went to work at Otero Junior College. She especially liked her last placement as the Secretary of Student Affairs at the Student Center and retired after twenty one years. She loved working with the college youth and especially the foreign exchange students. While they were attending Otero some of these students found their home away from home while living with Ruthie and Bill, and returned often for visits. Ruth enjoyed planning weddings for many at the student center and hosted several receptions at their home.

She was an active supporter of the Parent Teacher Association at South School, helped organize, start and served as President of the La Junta Chapter of Christian Woman’s Club (now called After 5 Club). She was selected as Colorado Merit Mother of the year for the Colorado Mother’s organization and served as their president. She supported the organization until her health prevented it. For many years Ruth was an active member of Chapter W PEO, and the United Methodist Church where she taught Sunday school, helped coordinate Vacation Bible School, and was a wonderful supporter of the Methodist Women’s activities. While living in Beulah, Ruth was a member of the Beulah Methodist Church and Beulah Belles. In Ruth’s later years she enjoyed attending Cowboy Church in La Junta.

Ruthie’s commitment to motherhood and the family was extremely important to her. Her family especially appreciated her courageous and indomitable spirit as she was willing to do whatever it took to support their many varied activities and responsibilities. From cleaning and painting apartments; to driving a trailer load of horses; encouraging her children with their homework, 4-H reports or school activities; to washing animals for 4-H: Ruth was always willing to jump in, get busy and get the job done. She was especially known for the delicious homemade pies she whipped up in quantity. These were delivered with love to her friends and family for all of their special events. She was an avid knitter in her earlier days making booties for many family and friends’ newborn babies.

La Junta was home to Bill and Ruth but they were always fond of the mountains, especially the Beulah Valley where her grandfather had a cabin since 1921. After Ruthie was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 1992, they purchased a home in the Beulah Valley. They have loved the slower lifestyle, the beauty of the mountains and their Beulah friends for the past eighteen years.

Ruthie is survived by her husband of sixty five years, H.W. (Bill) Frye: two brothers, Custis Roe (Annette) Green II of Hawaii, and Bob Green of Florida; and one sister, Jinny Black of Littleton. She is survivied by five children: Virginia (Frank) Malouff of Virginia; Brad (Angela) Frye of Washington; Janell (Kenny) Cranson, Millie (Gail) Allen, Cindi (Ron) White of La Junta. She is also survived by twenty-eight grandchildren: Lynnea (Brian) Malouff Weissman of California, Daniel and David Malouff of Virginia, Molly (Jason) Cranson Stuchlik, Kendi (Everitt) Cranson Groves, Cassy (Charles) Cranson Roweth, John (Kathy) Cranson, Jessica (Chad) Frye Tobiasson, Rynea (Dude) Allen Kissel, Gayla (Jeb) Allen Brown, Emily and Missy Allen, Bo (Abby) White, Brent White, Bart (Hanna) White, Joe Malouff of Colorado; Brody White, Lindy (Trent) Allen Sharon of Texas; Lana (Perry) Frye Berry, Levi Frye of Arizona; Zebulun, Josiah, Rayni, Hosanna, Jedidiah, Keziah, Malachi, and Azariah Frye all of Washington; as well as thirty six great-grand children and growing.

She was preceded in death by her son, Dr. Jearl Frye and his wife, Daryln; her parents, Custis and Dorothy Green; her mother and father-in-law, J. Frank and Georgia Frye; and her sister-in-law, Helen Frye Strain.

Funeral services for Ruthie will be Tuesday, January 12, 2010 at the United Methodist Church of La Junta at 10:30 a.m. Burial will be at Fairview Cemetery following the service. Visitation will be Monday, January 11, 2010 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Peacock Memorial Chapel.

Peacock-Larsen Funeral Home & Arkansas Valley Crematory is in charge of arrangements.



Memorials may be made to the Custis Green Foundation at the First National Bank of La Junta at 4th and Colorado Ave. This foundation was set up by Ruth’s father to provide scholarships for students at Otero Junior College and assistance for Colorado Boy’s Ranch, Koshares, Otero Museum, and the Presbyterian Church and other non-profit organizations in the La Junta area.