Ruth Holder

Ruth Ann Holder, 77, relocated to Heaven April 6, 2016. She was born to Minnie (Rosanky) & August Meduna, December 11, 1938 in Rosanky, Texas. Ruth is survived by her son Billy Fritz, Jr. and daughter Gail Draper; 5 grandchildren & 4 great grandchildren. Ruth earned her Smithville High School graduate certificate, fell in love and married the man of her three children.
Ruth was married to Billy Fritz, Sr. of Smithville and, of the marriage of 20 years, 3 children were born: Amy Lynn Fritz, Billy Wayne Fritz, Jr. and Gail Marie Draper. Amy, the oldest of the three, relocated to Heaven at age 43. They lived in Smithville and grew up with the community here. Ruth maintained the family restaurant for a year and a half while married to Billy.
Ruth enjoyed decorating cakes, pies and pastries for the public on the days she was not working her full time job (held approximately 34 years) with Smithville Hospital Authority. She started out as a nurse aide and worked with Dr. Thomas who encouraged her to increase her knowledge to become the dietary supervisor of the Smithville Hospital and Towers Nursing Home. During the time she worked her regular job and made pastries for the community, she was earning her Associates in Foodservice Management at Austin Public Evening School. Ruth also completed courses in achieving foodservice excellence, professional cooking and foodservice standards with Purdue University, and a course with Anderson-Benner Associates for modified diet cooking. She studied dietary service supervision with the Texas Nursing Home Association. Ruth supervised all the food preparation for the patients, residents and employees. She managed 10-15 employees at a time and had the most faithful & loyal employees for all the years she worked in the position. Ruth provided instruction in the use and maintenance of foodservice equipment, supervising sanitation, safety and housekeeping procedures, purchasing & receiving of all food and supplies, maintained cost and budget records and counseled employees. She was a member of the Texas Dietary Managers Association. Ruth won 2nd prize in 'Food Management Magazine' for her dessert in the National Dessert Recipe Contest. She retired after nearly 34 years. Her last day was to be January 3, 2005 but as the 'Smithville Times Newspaper' article reads: "I would stay on until they found a replacement, and felt like that was the fair thing to do. Wow! What an unselfish person she was…always helping others first.
After a few years, Ruth went on to find love again and married Gene Holder of Seguin, Texas. They had a lot of good times. Ruth & Gene enjoyed traveling, going to church and family gatherings. Years passed and they continued on their journey separately doing what made them happy and helpful to others.