Ruth Howard died peacefully on June 29 at home in Sammamish, at the age of 97.
Ruth Evelyn Ley was born April 8, 1917, in Zillah, to George W. and Mary (Walmsley) Ley. She was raised in Wapato, with sisters Mildred Goldsworthy and Margaret Wright, graduating from Wapato High School in 1934. She studied music at Washington State University, where she was a member of Pi Beta Phi Sorority.
Ruth Howard
In 1940, she married George I. Howard and they made their home in Yakima, where their three children were born and raised. Ruth was employed by the Yakima School District for 25 years as secretary and assistant to the business manager.
Following retirement in 1977, Ruth and George moved to Florence, Ariz., where they lived until returning to Yakima in 1994. She moved to Bellewood Retirement Apartments in Issaquah in 2005 to be close to her family.
Ruth is survived by her three children, Lynn Kennedy (Fred), Donna Kennedy (Ed) and William Howard (Allene). She leaves behind six grandchildren, Katherine Price (Phil), Susan Imwalle (Larry), Karen Harmon (Geoff), Jennifer Adams (Tylon), Karl Howard (Rose Braden) and Andrew Kennedy (Heather Lauren); 10 great-grandchildren, Evan and Madeline Imwalle, Adrian and Niklas Kennedy, Kevin, Emma and Audrey Harmon, Eric Price, Grant Howard and Travis Adams; and several nieces and nephews.
Ruth was a member of Sammamish Presbyterian Church, Chapter HE, P.E.O., a former member of First Presbyterian Church of Florence, Ariz., where she served as church organist for 15 years, and a former member of Yakima First Presbyterian Church.
Ruth will be remembered for her sweet smile and cheerful approach to life. She loved her family where she was the center of joy, warmth and fun. Ruth was passionate about handcrafts and sewing, especially quilting, and made more than 100 quilts for family members and charities. She loved music and was an accomplished pianist and organist.
A memorial service will be Saturday, July 19, at 1 p.m. at Sammamish Presbyterian Church.
In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to Evergreen Health Hospice Care (www.evergreenhospital.org/hospice) or P.E.O. Program for Continuing Education (www.peointernational.org).