Ruth Akin Valtair McCully

Ruth Akin Valtair McCully Ruth McCully died on July 17, 2008 in Austin. Ruth Amelia Akin was the fourth of six children born to John B. Akin and Maude McNutt Akin, of Dallas Texas. She was born on March 25, 1916. While working for the Civic Federation of Dallas she met her future husband, Jack Valtair, the Director of Youth Programs at the Federation. They married on August 22, 1945. Jack became a field representative for the Fair Employment Practices Commission that same year. In 1952 Jack and Ruth's daughter Jacqueline was born. In 1953 the family moved to Washington D.C. Ruth went to work for the Congress of Industrial Organizations. Jack was killed in a car accident in Ohio in 1959. In 1970 Ruth married John D. McCully in a ceremony at Ruth's home in Arlington Virginia. The neighbors decorated the street and it was a joyous occasion. She continued to work for the AFL-CIO and John continued his work as a journalist for the U.S. Information Agency. In 1974 the couple retired to Austin, Texas where they already had many friends. The two started and ran a rare book business. Each Friday they played poker at Emma Long's home in what is now the longest running poker group in Austin. Ruth and John enjoyed sixteen years together before John's death in 1986. Ruth was a member of First Unitarian Universalist Church of Austin. She was a life long Democrat, a supporter of Human Rights, environmental, anti poverty, and educational causes and many health research organizations. She was open minded and tolerant, but steadfast in her convictions. Ruth is survived by her youngest brother, the artist Harry Akin, currently of Austin, her daughter Jaci Kenagy-Valtair, Jaci's husband John Kenagy. She is also survived by her step-children, John McCully and wife Gemma, and Ann McCully McFarlin and husband W. Darden McFarlin and her daughter-in-law, Jenny Oswald, widow of her stepson, Jack (Valtair) Oswald. Ruth's grandchildren are Kyrie Sterling-Valtair, Rowan Kenagy-Valtair, Allisen McCully Patel (Krupal), Mary McFarlin Dyer (Stephen), Laurie McFarlin Stein (Alan), Jim McFarlin (Michelle), Susan Oswald Peters (Mike), and Shanan Oswald Shepherd (Rob). She has at this point ten great-grandchildren. A private family memorial was held. Those wishing to honor Ruth by a contribution may make donations to Berea College in Berea Kentucky, or Family Elder Care in Austin.