Ruth taught school at several locations before her marriage to Bill Free. Two of the locations were in Stonewall county and Sibley, Throckmorton County. She received her teaching certificate after attending the Normal school that was later to become Hardin-Simmons University. Aunt Ruth's teaching certificate reads "Can teach in any white school in State of Texas". (this information from her daughter, Frances, on Sept. 16, 2000)417

From the Abilene Reporter, Feb. 3, 1978:
Ruth Free, Albany
Ruth L Free, 97, of Albany died at 6:20am Wednesday in Shackelford County Memorial Hospital after a lengthy illness. Services will be 2:30p.m. Friday in First Baptist Church. The Rev. Dewey Lamb, pastor, will officiate. Burial will be in Albany Cemetery, directed by Godfrey Funeral Home. Born March 21, 1880, in Fort Griffin, she married William Riley Free Aug 9, 1914, in Throckmorton. She was a graduate of Simmons College (now Hardin-Simmons University) and taught school for 17 years in Throckmorton and Haskell counties. She had lived in Albany 52 years. She was a Baptist. She was a member of the Throckmorton Order of Eastern Star. Mr. Free died in 1958. Survivors include two daughters, Mrs Wayne (Frances) Morrow of Albany and Mrs S M (Rowena) Nelson of Crookston, MN; five grandchildren; and three great grandchildren. A son, Dave, died in 1944. Pallbearers will be Rusty Parsons, John Morrow, Jan Nelson, Eddie Morrow, Ruben Pirtle and Mack Pirtle. 417