Ruth Clapp

Ruth Stewart Clapp, age 89, of 400 Steele Street Gibsonville, NC, died at 11:40 AM, August 3, 2010, at Alamance Regional Medical Center after 12 hours of critical illness. She was surrounded by her loving family and friends. Ruth was born April 23, 1921, to the late Harry and Roxie Andrew Stewart. She attended Gibsonville School, when it was graded school 1-11 and took numerous art and machining classes at Alamance Community College. She grew up and lived in Gibsonville most of her life. During World War II, Ruth worked for Boeing Aircraft in Seattle, Washington, building B-17 and B-29 bombers. Later, she was the first woman machinist at Burlington Industries in the Pioneer Plant in Burlington, N.C. Ruth later traveled to Houston, Texas, where she worked as a machinist in the oil industry. Ruth championed the rights and equality for women her entire life. Ruth was preceded in death by her husband, Raymond Carson Clapp; sisters Jean Hicks, Katherine Stewart, Frances Stewart; a son, Kevin Clapp; and grandsons, Christopher Clapp, and Malcolm Mac Godwin, Jr. She is survived by her sisters, Polly Leonard Loy of West Palm Beach, Florida, Ann Rev.Tom Wright of Danville, Virginia; children, David Cindy Walker, Bonnie W.Charles Land, Ray Laurie Clapp, Harry Clapp, and Mary Earl Godwin; grandchildren, Carrie Clapp, Johnny Walker, Brandon Amanda Flynn, Chad Clapp, Angel Davis, Shane Davis, Jessica Ryan Clapp, Rodger Godwin, Richard Godwin, and Correy Clapp; 21 beloved great grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews. Ruth loved her family, talking with people, growing flowers and supporting multiple causes over the years. Since the death of her grandson, Chris, in 1999, she has made thousands of pincusions "hats" to encourage people to become organ donors. She was a member of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Greensboro and was an active member of Aging in Action in Gibsonville. She was a creative artist, an intellectual, an avid reader and a very generous soul. In her memory please consider peace, organ donation, support for a good quality of life for seniors and the disabled, and health care and an adequate living wage for all. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you "pay it forward" by finding and helping someone in need or donating to your favorite school library. A memorial service will be held at 2:00 PM Sunday, August 8, 2010 at Lowe Funeral Home and Crematory. The family will receive friends following the service. You may sign the online register book at www.lowefuneralhome.com