Remembering Ruthie

                                              (you can click on photos to enlarge for viewing)


Been feeling sad this week as I remember my long time pal, Ruth Stapf Kvinsland, who passed away Dec. 2nd from injuries sustained in a fall while in her wheelchair. Poor ole Ruthie had a rough go of it these past years and it's a blessing she didn't have to suffer through trying to heal from this latest setback. She sustained a broken leg, broken ribs, face lacerations, and she was already very frail to start with.  RIP!  Ironically, another close friend of both Ruth and I (Linda Pedersen) died almost two years ago to the day.
I went through my photos and tried to pick out a couple dozen of Ruth to share.  Came up with these.........

                                           2nd grade, Ruth is 2nd from the left, 2nd row

                                       3rd grade, Ruth is on the right in 3rd row

                                       5th grade, Ruth is again on the right in 3rd row

                                              6th grade, Ruth is 3rd from left in 3rd row

                                   7th grade, Ruth is in back row, 2nd from the right

I had Ruth in several of my home rooms growing up and I first remember going to her house in the 4th grade.  This next picture shows her with Jean Tyler at Ruth's house on Rose Street.

After we graduated in 1961, Ruth and I (and Sharon Sofie) made our way to Port Angeles. Sharon was already working up there and roomed with us on Peabody Street while Ruth and I trudged up the hill every morning to attend Peninsula Jr. College.  After we left the Peabody house (and yes, we were asked to) we found a unit at All View Motel which had a kitchenette. We eventually were asked to move from this place too.  Boys were always hanging around (for Ruth and Sharon --not me) and the cars coming and going and the parties being held were a big no no. Here's a shot of me,Ruth, and Chuck Hodgdon of Chimacum.

Jump ahead 3 years and here's Ruth standing up as my maid of honor at the Methodist Church in Port Townsend.

Ruth and I both ended up getting divorced. She had one son and I had a son and three daughters. She also had two grandchildren and I had four. Shown below are the apples of her eye.

                                     Ruth with her son, John, and grandson,Robert

Other shots of Ruth include this one of her hanging out the wash. She always preferred to dry clothes that way instead of in the dryer.

On a trip to California, she tried panning for gold...

She loved collecting beach glass and one day, we walked all the way to Glass Beach. I thought I'd die before we got back to North Beach.

This picture, however, is a different beach outing with Linda and my granddaughter, Maddie. We all loved North Beach.  One year we traveled to the Grand Canyon together  and visited the wax museum in Las Vegas where we spent a few days. I told Ruth to climb up on the bed with Hugh Hefner -- so of course, she did!

At my 50th birthday party in 1993 (a surprise at Hadlock House), Ruth posed with me and several girlfriends.

Carol Rustad, Karen Cuykendall, Ruth, me, Linda Gillett, Doris LaChance, and Mary Pearce

And last but not least are a few of the many alumni reunions we had over the years with classmates.

Ruth, Sharon, and I always tried to get one of ourselves each year as we laughed about calling ourselves The Virgins of All View.  I think we even made up a song about it.  Here's one of the earlier pictures and the last one we had taken together.

Our class often had an annual reunion at whoever had a home in or near Port Townsend and was willing to host.  Those included Ruth, Dave Marriott, Mary Gaboury, Karen Jovag, Lew Morello, Liz O'Brien, and myself.

Ruth was a good friend and fun to be with. When I moved back to Port Townsend in 1973, she helped get me hired at the medical clinic downtown as a secretary. I hadn't worked in ten years so I was darn lucky to land that job.  Later when I got divorced, her folks rented me one of their homes until I bought my own mobile home.  This rental was very familiar to me as her folks lived there when we were teens and I spent a lot of time within those walls.  I also got dressed for my wedding there. So many memories.  I'll miss you  Ruth Baby!