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Ruth Margaret Granger O'Quinn (May 12, 1925 – May 31, 2021) was a pioneer in public education and the Southern Baptist denomination in Alexandria, Louisiana[1]
A native of Pollock in Grant Parish, O'Quinn was a magna cum laude graduate of Baptist-affiliated Louisiana College in Pineville and received a master's degree from Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, Louisiana In December 1959, she began her 25-year teaching career and taught all but the first two of those years in Rapides Parish, including Tioga High School, Bolton High School, and Alexandria Senior High School Her last sixteen years was as the English Department Chair at Alexandria Senior High.
Mrs. O'Quinn was involved in national, state, and local professional organizations for educators and actively supported student and teacher interests. She always reminded others that the two essentials for a school were students and teachers while others were only supporters. She was president of the Louisiana Association of Classroom Teacher at both the state and local levels and served on the parish committee for the integration of faculties. She was elected as the first president of the integrated Rapides Parish Association of Educators and worked as a teacher and later school board member to prevent union control of education through collective bargaining. In 1985, Ruth retired from teaching and was elected to the Rapides Parish School Board in 1986.
Ruth Granger O'Quinn was listed in the Who's Who of American Women and in 2000 Who's Who in American Education. She was recognized by Governor Mike Foster and the State of Louisiana for her "lifetime of dedicated service in the field of education, serving the citizens of Louisiana as a teacher and school board member."
Louisiana College recognized her in 2000, dedicating the Ruth O'Quinn Center for Liberal Arts and Professional Studies on the LC campus. She was also honored by the college as "Distinguished Alumni in 2013-2014."
d."Pill" Granger O'Quinn will be at Emmanuel Baptist Church Saturday, June 5, 2021 at 11:00 a.m., with Dr. Chris Thacker, Reverend Susan Cauley and Reverend Jerry Cauley officiating. Interment will be in Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Ball under the direction of Hixson Brothers, Alexandria.
Visitation will be Friday, June 4, 2021 at Hixson Brothers, Alexandria from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. and Saturday at Emmanuel Baptist Church, Alexandria from 9:00 a.m. until time of service.
Mrs. O'Quinn, 96, a native of Pollock and long time resident of Alexandria, died peacefully in her home surrounded by her daughter and family on May 31, 2021.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Hansel Benson O'Quinn, son, Hansel "Chip" O'Quinn, Jr., parents, James Andrew and Ruth Margaret Clinton Granger, surrogate son, John M. O'Quinn, sisters, Lois Granger Caffey and Jane Granger Morrison and her husband, Insley.
As an active member of Emmanuel Baptist Church for over fifty years, Ruth worked on numerous church committees and was the first woman to serve on the Church's Board of Trustees.
Ruth was a magna cum laude graduate of Louisiana College and received a master's degree from Northwestern State University. In December 1959, she began her teaching career and taught 25 ½ years, with 23 ½ of those years being with the Rapides Parish public schools, Tioga, Bolton and ASH. Her final 16 years of teaching she served as the English Department Chair at Alexandria Senior High.
Mrs. O'Quinn was involved in national, state, and local professional organizations for educators and actively supported student and teacher interests. She always reminded others that the two essentials for a school were students and teachers while others were only supporters. She was president of the Louisiana Association of Classroom Teacher at both the state and local levels and served on the parish committee for the integration of faculties. She was elected as the first president of the integrated Rapides Parish Association of Educators and worked as a teacher and later school board member to prevent union control of education through collective bargaining. In 1985, Ruth retired from teaching and was elected to the Rapides Parish School Board in 1986.
Ruth Granger O'Quinn was listed in the Who's Who of American Women and in 2000 Who's Who in American Education. She was recognized by Governor Mike Foster and the State of Louisiana for her "lifetime of dedicated service in the field of education, serving the citizens of Louisiana as a teacher and school board member."
Louisiana College recognized her in 2000, dedicating the Ruth O'Quinn Center for Liberal Arts and Professional Studies on the LC campus. She was also honored by the college as "Distinguished Alumni in 2013-2014."
Ruth Granger O'Quinn is survived by her daughter, Carol Anne O'Quinn, of Alexandria, a sister, Shirley Granger Swor and two brothers, Harold A. Granger and wife, Laura, and Phillip W. Granger and wife, Gayle.
Pallbearers will be Ed Hixson, John Robinson, Robert Anderson, Wade Warren, Phillip Budd, and Rob Wilson.
Honorary pallbearers are her nieces and nephews, who are as follows: Forrest J. Hammond, Pete (Evelyn) Hammond, James (Brenda) Hammond, Andy (Renee) Granger, Kerry Granger, Tim (Rain) Granger, Debbie (Frank) Coe, Butch (Tamara) Morrison, Donna Smith, Benny (Marilyn) Swor, Karen (Gene) McManus, Barry Swor, Beth (Stephen) Eubanks, Kim (Chris) Eitel, Dana (Charles) Presley and Amy (Richard) Weaver.
The Family would like to thank the Compassionate Care Hospice staff, specifically nurses Allison Young, Latisha White, and Savannah Robertson, for the excellent care given to Ruth. Special thanks to Sherika Moore who Ruth referred to as her Angel.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be sent to Emmanuel Baptist Church Renovations Fund, 430 Jackson Street, Alexandria, LA 71301, The Salvation Army, 620 Beauregard St, Alexandria, LA 71301, or the Food Bank of Central Louisiana, 3223 Baldwin Ave, Alexandria, LA 71301.
To extend on-line condolences to the O'Quinn family, please contact us at www- ↑ Ruth O'Quinn obituary. Alexandria Town Talk (June 1, 2021). Retrieved on June 3, 202`=June 3, 2021.