Ruth Helen Skinner

Ruth Helen Skinner, age 91, passed away peacefully on November 5th, 2024 at approximately 9:45 AM in her San Clemente, CA apartment. She was born on November 25th, 1932 to Ernest Chris Schuerman and Helen Marie (Jeske) Schuerman in Bell, CA and raised in Whittier, CA alongside her five older siblings, Art Schuerman, Irving Schuerman, Lyn Moman, Betty Uehlein, and Lil Schuerman. She loved school and even completed High School Extension courses at Compton College.

One day at a drive in movie, a handsome gentleman fell out of his car trying to introduce himself to Ruth. Little did she know at the time, Cliff Skinner, would be the love of her life and that they would spend 64 happy years together. Ruth loved that Cliff made her laugh, was (mostly) responsible, and seemed to genuinely like everything about him. His looks and muscles didn’t hurt either.

Perhaps one of Ruth’s greatest accomplishments was raising her four strong willed sons in their home on 5933 Hazelbrook, Lakewood, CA. Their family life consisted of many sporting events some of which Cliff coached and Ruth volunteered as team mom. She monitored her sons’ performance in school by working part time for the Bellflower Unified School District’s administration office. All of the neighborhood kids new that cleanliness was next to godliness in Ruth’s household. The vacuum lines in the formal living room were to remain undisturbed and eating off the kitchen floor was fair game.

Once her boys were out of the house, Ruth loved to be on the road. So much so that she and Cliff traveled the country in their motor home for the first seven years of their retirement. She collected spoons along the way to commemorate the journey and through their exploration, they found that Los Osos was paradise to them. They settled there for the rest of their time together until Cliff’s passing in 2017. Ruth remained an active community member there for years after, volunteering as a starter at the Morro Bay Golf Course where she scored a hole in one.

Loved ones describe Ruth as strong willed and having a loving, gentle spirit, and being joyful, kind, graceful, and classy. Her sense of class came from the deep influence her brother, Art, had on her. She had an infectious smile that graced her face easily and often, which was accompanied by her equally infectious laugh. All in all, she was well liked and popular in her circles throughout life. She will be greatly missed.

Ruth is preceded in death by her two parents, five siblings, husband, Cliff Skinner, and son Todd Skinner. She is survived by her three sons and daughters-in-law, Jim and Pati, Curt and Sarah, Scott and Nicki, eight grandchildren, and seven great grandchildren. A memorial service will be held at 10:00 AM on her birthday, Monday November 25th, 2024 at Fairhaven Memorial Services in Mission Viejo, CA.