Faculty wife, alumna Ruth MacGorman dies
Barbara Ruth MacGorman, Southwestern graduate and wife of long-time Southwestern professor Jack W. MacGorman, died on Saturday, Sept. 29. She was 93.
MacGorman was born in Houston, Texas, on Feb. 13, 1925. Following her graduation from Baylor University in 1946, she enrolled in Southwestern Seminary, where she met and married Jack, who went on to become a professor of New Testament at the seminary for 53 years. The two met in a missions class in 1946 and married the following year.
MacGorman earned master’s degrees from Southwestern (Master of Religious Education, 1948) and TCU, and, at 57 years of age, a Doctor of Education from North Texas State University (now the University of North Texas). She subsequently served in the field of special education in Fort Worth ISD for 20 years.
The MacGormans were members of University Baptist Church for 44 years, with MacGorman teaching a ladies Bible study class for roughly 35 years. She also accompanied her husband as often as possible when he spoke or preached in churches, mission fields, and other Christian ministries around the world.
Even after Jack’s retirement from Southwestern in 2001, he and his wife faithfully attended the seminary’s chapel services three days a week for more than a decade. They were honored with Southwestern’s L.R. Scarborough Award in 2008, and in 2011, both were present as Southwestern dedicated the MacGorman Chapel and Performing Arts Center, named in honor of Jack MacGorman.
In a newspaper article celebrating their 70th wedding anniversary in 2017, the MacGormans said, “At 96 and 92, we are grateful that, for 70 years, we have had many good days, some bad days, but always together days.”
MacGorman is survived by her husband of 71 years, Jack; their seven children, Donald, Robert, Linda, Deborah, John, Adam, and Timothy; 13 grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her son Stephen.
A viewing will be held on Friday, Oct. 5, from 6-8 p.m. at Thompson Harveson and Cole Funeral Home, 702 8th Avenue Fort Worth, Texas 76104. The funeral service will be held on Saturday, Oct. 6, at 2 p.m. at University Baptist Church, 2720 Wabash Ave, Fort Worth, Texas 76109.
