Ruth Odessa Hamilton

Ruth Odessa “Kelley” Hamilton passed away peacefully on Monday, July 20, 2026, just two weeks and two days before her 101st birthday. When she turned 90, Ruth said her birthday wish was to live to be 100. In characteristic fashion, she exceeded that goal.

Ruth Odessa Kelley was born to Arnold and Anna Ruth Kelley, in Red Oak, Oklahoma, just before the Great Depression. Her father was owner/operator of Kelley Hatcheries, and Ruth grew up helping to raise chickens as part of the family business. Those early years helped instill the strong work ethic, resilience, and independence that remained with her throughout her life.

Ruth attended Wilburton High School and was a member of the graduating class of 1943. After World War II, she married Floyd Prock. Together, they had three children: Micheal, Jeff, and Jan.

Ruth started her career working at the Latimer County News-Tribune, and later moved to Fort Worth, where she worked at the Star-Telegram for more than 25 years. She ended her career as a proofreader for The Wall Street Journal in 1985.

While working at the Star-Telegram, she met Wylie Hamilton, who worked for the newspaper for more than 35 years. They married and had one son, Arnie. Wylie passed away in 1982.

After retiring in 1985, Ruth poured her energy into line dancing. She formed a dance team made up of senior women from the North Richland Hills Senior Center that traveled around the state, performing in front of audiences. Her family has always believed that her love of dancing—and the friendship, joy, and constant activity it brought into her life—played a significant part in her remarkable longevity.

Ruth remained fiercely independent throughout her life and continued living on her own until 2023. During her final years, even as her short-term memory failed her, she retained many vivid memories of earlier times and enjoyed sharing stories from her long life.

Above all, Ruth was a proud and devoted daughter, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, great-great-grandmother, and, in one of her favorite roles, aunt. She was preceded in death by her parents, and her beloved sister, Kasha Kelley of California. She is survived by her brother, Miah Kelley of Hawaii; her four children, daughter Jan Prock and sons Micheal Prock, Jeff Prock, and Arnie Hamilton; nine grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

For a girl born in a small Oklahoma town during the Great Depression, Ruth’s life and legacy reached far beyond anything she might have imagined. Her extended family has traveled throughout the world, visiting or living on six of the seven continents, and islands across the Pacific, including, Hawaii, New Zealand and Samoa. It also includes college graduates, including those with advanced degrees, with studies and careers in fields such as English, history, psychology, nursing, and medical technology. Other family members have built careers in the newspaper industry, advertising, construction, education, advanced technologies, civic service, and other public institutions, while also giving their time through Christian ministry, volunteer work, and service to their communities and society at large.

Ruth took great pride in the lives and accomplishments of her family, who in turn cherished her fierce independence, the love and support she gave so freely, and the example she set throughout more than a century of life.

Her family will forever cherish her memory, along with the many lessons, stories, and joyful moments she leaves behind. Though the pain of her loss is fresh, we are grateful that she is now free from the limitations of her earthly body and at peace after a long and remarkable life, fully lived.

There is no public service or memorial planned. The family will gather later to celebrate her life.