GLADYS RUTH

WALDROP Gladys Ruth Waldrop was born July 23, 1906, in Jefferson County, Ala., to Jesse Richard Waldrop and Ada Rosalyn Ware Waldrop. She passed away Dec. 27, 2007, at her home in Auburn. A memorial service will be Jan. 5, 2008, at 10 a.m. in the Auburn Memorial Park Cemetery. Miss Waldrop graduated from Bessemer High School in 1923. She attended Montevallo and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in physical education. She attended Columbia University in New York receiving a Master of Arts in physical education in 1929. She worked at Peace College in Raleigh, N.C., for seven years before attending The College of William and Mary in Virginia-Richmond Division, receiving a degree in physical therapy in 1938. She immediately accepted a fellowship at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., in physical therapy and then received board certification with the American Registry of Physical Therapists. She published numerous articles in professional journals and was among the first female pioneers in physical therapy. Following her fellowship at Mayo Clinic, she accepted the position of director of physical therapy at Touro Infirmary in New Orleans, La., where she served for 14 years. In 1954, she was asked to establish a new Physical Therapy Department at Southern Baptist Hospital in New Orleans serving as the director for the next 17 years. She retired at age 65. During her years in New Orleans, she also had a private physical therapy practice treating home-bound patients. She move to Auburn in 1978 to be closer to family and lived out her golden years. She and her brother, Richard Waldrop, owned Waldrop's, a gift store in downtown Auburn. She received her real estate license after moving to Auburn and assisted Edith Sprayberry in her real estate business. Gladys had a great appreciation of nature, a true love for all of God's creatures and a keen awareness of the world around her. She is survived by nieces, Janice (John) Saidla of Auburn and Corinne (Woodrow) Barnes of Atlanta; nephew, Bill (Carol) Ham of Auburn; very special friends, Ben, Wanda, Brannon, and Hannah Wallace of Auburn, Shirley Rowell of Auburn and her faithful cat companion, Woody. There are also seven great-nieces and nephews and two great-great-nieces. She was preceded in death by her parents, Mr. and Mrs. J.R. Waldrop Sr.; sister, Grace Waldrop Ham and brother, Jesse Richard Waldrop Jr. In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests consideration of a donation to: Mercy Medical Clinic, 1702 Catherine Ct., Auburn, AL 36830 or Hospice of EAMC, c/o EAMC Foundation, 1365 Gatewood Drive, Auburn, AL 36830. Jeff Jones Funeral Home in LaFayette, Ala., is handling arrangements. Sign the guest book online at www.oanow.com.