Ruth Karlene Wadsworth was born on November 4, 1929 to Effie and Carl Teague in Madsonville, Texas. Her family, including Glynn, Claude, Olen and sisters Lorraine and Evelyn moved to the Bangs Community in the 1930’s. She attended and graduated from the Bangs School District.
As a young lady she rode the train to Brownwood to work at the U.S.O. during WWII, serving refreshments to the solders from Camp Bowie. She also worked at Mr. Tommy Young’s drugstore in Bangs.
Karlene married Lloyd Wayne Wadsworth on Valentine’s Day. From their marriage they happily welcomed son Russell Wayne, and daughters Toni Pat, and Carmen Ann.
She worked for Tommy Young at Texans, Inc. lamp factory located in Bangs. Karlene wired and created shades, including the difficult pleated shades for the lamps for 28 years. After her retirement from Texans Inc. her husband Wayne became very ill and died after a short battle with Cholangiocarcinoma. After caring for her husband, she began working at the J.B. Stephens Elementary cafeteria in Bangs. She was famous for her homemade hot rolls and her fruit cobbler with the students and faculty. While working in the cafeteria, she would always say “I would always be sure and give each child a big smile. You would never know if that would be the only smile they would get that day.”
She lived alone for several years with lots of visits and Sunday dinners with the family.
Four years ago she began living with daughter Carmen near Cross Plains. Karlene was received into the loving arms of Jesus Christ at 12:31 AM on Wednesday, December 6, 2023. Karlene was preceded in death by her husband Wayne, her newborn son Robert Mitchell, and son Russell, her parents Carl and Effie, brothers Glynn, Claude, and Olen, and sisters Evelyn and Lorraine. She is survived by daughter Carmen Free, Grandchildren Lori McCrane and husband Steven, Angie Fields and husband Jason, Brandi Teddlie, Tiffany Ray and husband Robert, Ashley Lucas and husband Josh. Great Grandchildren include Matthew McCrane and wife Megan, Lizzie McCrane, Brandon Montemayor, Bryce Montemayor and Courtney Dean, Brayden Fields and Linda Kugle, Trinity Simmons, Allison Netherton, Morgan and Madelyn Ray, Madison Hanley and Paiton Lucas, and Great Great Grandchild Kimball Mccrane and another Great Great Grandchild due to arrive in April.
Graveside service is at Bangs Cemetery with Pastor Michael Light on December, 8th at 2 p.m.