Ruth Leona Freeland Griffin, age 84, of Arkadelphia, passed from this life on Sunday, January 3, 2010 at Twin Rivers Health and Rehabilitation Center in Arkadelphia. She was born November 22, 1925 in Lamar County, TX, the daughter of Albert Earl and Lizzie Ledbetter Freeland. Ruth moved with her family to Blair, OK in 1942 where she graduated from Blair High School and from Oklahoma Baptist University. She married John Paul Griffin on December 23, 1978 in Ferguson, MO. He preceded her in death in 1984. Ruth taught school in Arkadelphia for many years and after her retirement, continued to mentor children through the school s Foster Grandparent Program. She attended the First Baptist Church of Arkadelphia. Ruth was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, sisters, Lora Massey, Dean Tate, Bessie Bea Freeland, and Faon Cone, and brothers, Ferrell Freeland and Royce Freeland. She is survived by a stepson, Walt Griffin and family; by sisters Malone Aderholt of Hoover, AL and Arduth Beshears of Midwest City; nieces especially involved in her care, Sharon Cone and Jan Merz, nieces Gayle Tate Stover, Donna Massey Dixon, Robin Beshears Hobbs, Ann Beshears Grissom, Sherri Freeland Schuler; and nephews Mike Freeland, David Cone, and Bob Beshears. She is also survived by many great nieces and nephews, cousins, and other relatives, and by a host of friends. She was much loved and will be sorely missed. Funeral services will be at 10:00 AM, Thursday, January 7, 2010 at First Baptist Church in Arkadelphia, with Will Thompson officiating. Visitation will be from 9:00 AM until service time at the church. Interment will be at 2:00 PM., Friday, January 8, 2010 at Blair Cemetery in Blair, OK under the direction of Lawton Ritter Gray Funeral Home. Services are entrusted to Welch Funeral Home of Arkadelphia. Visit www.welchfh.net to sign the online guest book.