Ruth Bradley Wiley Barnes Newton, age 99, of Springfield passed away Saturday, February 1, 2020, in Kansas City, Missouri, surrounded by family.

Ruthie, as she was called by all who knew and loved her, was born March 10, 1920, to C.M. and Audrey Bradley of Willard, Missouri, and was a life-long Greene County resident until her move to Kansas City in December of 2017.

Ruthie graduated from Willard High School as Valedictorian and attended Southwest Missouri State College.  She was active in many community organizations including King's Way United Methodist Church, SMMA Progressive Arts, and Tri Psi Sorority.  She served as the Executive Director of the Cerebral Palsy Center for fourteen years and helped establish The Springfield Workshop, serving as the first President of its Board of Directors.

She was born the year women got the right to vote, the same year a group began calling themselves the League of Women Voters. In 1975, she became a founder of the Springfield Chapter and later served as President. Through her work, she sat on Springfield's first zoning board and helped create the first voter registration program in Greene County. Ruthie also enjoyed playing golf and bridge at Twin Oaks Country Club, where she was a founding member.

She was preceded in death by her parents, sisters Frances Atchley (Walter), Helen Gorman (Hershel), Mildred McGuire (Bill), and brother, C.M; Dan Wiley, Clell Barnes, and Dwight Newton.

Ruthie is survived by her daughter, Judy Frost (Ed); grandchildren Jennifer Holden, Stephanie Frost, Whitney Frost, and Jed Frost (Beth); great-grandchildren Hannah Ruth Herndon (Nate), Andy Holden (Kathleen Waddell), Jonathan Holden (Grace Casten), Ellen Frost and Jude Frost; great-great-grandchildren Avery Herndon and Murphy Herndon; and nieces Helen Beth Kerns and Billye Craig.

Ruthie looked forward to having a centennial birthday party with family and friends. We can think of no greater way to honor her than by celebrating her extraordinary life on what would have been her 100 ^th birthday. Following a private service at King's Way United Methodist Church, a reception will be held in her honor from 1:30pm – 3:00pm at Twin Oaks Country Club on March 10, 2020.

Ruthie's great joy was her family; five generations of love, laughter, tears and triumph.   We are blessed to have shared her journey. In lieu of flowers, please celebrate Ruthie by doing something she loved: volunteer in the Springfield community, take a good friend to lunch, host a card party (preferably bridge), play a round of golf, or enjoy a cocktail at five o'clock. And remember to vote!

The family wishes to thank Ruthie's caregivers from Mercy Hospice (Springfield), Crossroads Hospice (Kansas City) and Wexford Place (Kansas City) for their exceptional care and grace. Online condolences may be made at www.gormanscharpf.com.