Ruth Wilson Peeper, age 91, of Springfield, passed away at 9:35 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 27, 2003, in Mercy Villa. She was born Sept. 16, 1912, to William J. and Ella Sutherland Gibson near Cotter, Ark. Ruth grew up in Cotter and later in St. Louis where she graduated from Central High School in 1929. In 1933, Ruth married Loren A. Wilson who was a civil engineer and graduate of the University of Mo. at Rolla. They operated a coal company in Springfield until Loren, a reserve Army officer, was called to service in 1939 to Washington, D.C. He served as the Resident Engineer on numerous military construction projects in the eastern United States. Upon their return to Crane following World War II, they operated a commercial construction and contracting company and several other businesses. They spent several winters in Hawaii where Loren died suddenly in 1971. Ruth maintained residences in Crane and Springfield for a number of years until she met her current husband, George Herbert Peeper, who was an executive with Toombs and Co., on a Shrine trip to England and Scotland early in 1976. They were married July 16, 1976, and lived near Lake Springfield. She and Herb were blessed with many good years together and were able to travel extensively and spent winters in numerous locations in Arizona, Florida and Hawaii. Ruth was an avid golfer and played at Twin Oaks, City Golf League and was a member of the Mo. State Seniors Association. She was also an avid bridge player and enjoyed many good friends. They continued to live at their home near the lake until ill health forced her to move to Mercy Villa in early 2002. She was a member and past Worthy Matron of O.E.S., Crane, Mo. Chapter and was a charter member at Twin Oaks Country Club and the Tower Club. She participated in many activities of the Elks Lodge #409 and Abou Ben Adhem Shrine of which her husband is a member. She was also a longtime member of First and Calvary Presbyterian Church. In addition to her parents and first husband, Ruth was preceded in death by a brother, Floyd Gibson and her stepfather, Herman Moede. She is survived by her husband, Herb, of the home, and his nephew, Richard Tanner and his wife, Sue, of Hinsdale, Ill. Services will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2003, in Gorman-Scharpf Brentwood Chapel with Dr. Gary D. Stratman officiating. Burial will follow in Crane Community Cemetery.