Ruth Laverne Means Cromwell

Ruth Laverne Means Cromwell, 96, of Lubbock died on Sunday, April 16 in Lubbock.

Family and friends will gather to celebrate her life at 11:00 A.M. Saturday, April 22, 2022, in The Venue on Broadway at Combest Funeral Home, 2210 Broadway in Lubbock.   Vick Bozeman and Randy Sanchez will be officiating. Graveside rites will follow at Peaceful Gardens Memorial Park, 15602 TX-493 Loop, Lubbock, TX.  Visitation will be Friday, April 21 from 3-5 p.m., again at The Venue on Broadway at Combest Funeral Home.

Ruth was born on November 5, 1926, in Los Angeles, California to Houston and Geneva Means. She graduated from Washington High School in Los Angeles and entered the Army Nurses training program where she lived in a dormitory with other aspiring young women desiring to be helpful during World War II.  The war ended, interrupting her training, and she got a job at George Pepperdine College where she met the love of her life, Charles “Chuck” Cromwell. They married on August 15, 1947, in Los Angeles, California.  They had many adventures together from farming in Imperial Valley, California, to moves to Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas, and India!  It was in India that Ruth taught the kitchen cook how to wring a chicken’s neck!  She was an accomplished seamstress making many outfits to clothe her children for summer church camp.  Ruth had the gift of service and hospitality as she hosted many baby and wedding showers in her home.  She always set a pretty table and prepared massive amounts of food for family gatherings on every holiday.  She had a particular soft spot in her heart for those often overlooked.  Ruth and Chuck moved to Lubbock in 1982 to be closer to family. She and Chuck were nearly a pre-school as they helped their daughters thru early career establishing by caring for the grandchildren who called her “Mena”.

Surviving Mena are her 4 children, Rev. Judith Ariel Shema of Lubbock, Charles Houston Cromwell and wife, Kaye, of Abilene, Susan Cromwell Bozeman, DVM, and husband, Vick Bozeman, of Idalou, and Cynthia Ruth Brown, MD, and husband, Byron Brown, MD, of Temple, TX.  12 grandchildren, and 17 great grandchildren.  Ruth’s husband, Charles F. Cromwell, Jr., preceded her in death on March 7, 2020.  Theirs was the great achievement of 73 years of marriage.

The family specifically honors Madison Dickson who provided patient support to Mena in her last years.  Also appreciated is the staff of Wilshire Place who provided friendship and support to both Ruth and Chuck.

Mena Ruth sewed hundreds of dolls to donate to children at the Lubbock Children’s Home.  It would honor her if memorials were sent to Lubbock Children’s Home.   Mailing Address:  P.O. Box 2824, Lubbock, TX 79408.