Ruth Coffman Medlock

Ruth Coffman Medlock of Jonesboro, Arkansas died January 26, 2010 of natural causes. For several years she had been a resident of St. Bernards Village. Mrs. Medlock was ninety-four and leaves two children, John Medlock of Kailua, Hawaii and Janice Atkeson of Essex, CT, and two grandchildren, Tucker Partel of Philadelphia and Geoff Partel of Brooklyn, New York, and two great grandchildren, Augie and Elias Partel.

Mrs. Medlock was born in Memphis and lived in Tennessee until 1966, when she moved to Jonesboro with her husband, John Medlock. In Tennessee, she taught English and commercial studies at Milan High School. For fifteen years, Mrs. Medlock was on the faculty of Bay High School where she taught journalism and business and was advisor for the school’s newspaper and annual. She established the journalism course and a number of her students won awards at the state level.

Mrs. Medlock was active in the professional organization for teachers, Delta Kappa Gamma, and she was Secretary of the local chapter. She was also active in the First Methodist Church as a Sunday School teacher and was District President of the United Methodist Women. For years, she worked in the church’s Food Pantry as a volunteer. In the community, she was President of several organizations, the Nocturne Music Club, the Gladiolus Garden Club, and Arts Study. She was active in the Friends of the Jonesboro Library and edited the newsletter.

She will be missed by the many students she taught, her friends, and her family. There will be a graveside service in Trenton, Tennessee, where she will be buried, and no services in Jonesboro. Any memorials in her honor should be sent to the Care Team, First Methodist Church, 801 S. Main St., Jonesboro, AR 72401.