Ruth Agnes Harvey

Ruth Agnes Workman was born on March 11, 1931, in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. Ruth was born at home during the Great Hurricane of 1931. That hurricane might have portended the upheaval that “Ruthie” would visit on the lives of her four brothers just by being a girl and the apple of her father’s eye.

Ruth was admittedly spoiled as the only girl in the family, and the youngest of five. Ruth told a lot of stories on herself over the years, including her father promising her a pony if she would stay at camp for the three weeks she had demanded (Ruthie refused the pony and came home on day 2). Her brothers could scarcely believe they shared the same stern Scotsman father.

In high school, Ruth was a straight A student, and she also studied piano. After graduating, she attended secretarial school, which was a good match for her orderly mind and attention to detail. She worked for an Insurance Broker, spending her entire salary on clothes. Ruth and best friend Sally had clothing on “lay-away” all over town, and lived at home looking fashionable until they married.

The Workman family were raised Baptist, and attended Woodlawn Baptist church regularly. Ruth participated in the Youth Group, which is where she met her husband, Ken Harvey. It was pretty much love at first sight for Ken and Ruth, and they married young. Ken joined the Airforce, and they were stationed at the AFB in Presque Isle, Maine. After four years of heavy snow and living in a converted Quonset Hut, the Harveys headed to San Diego, where Ruth’s brothers, Norman and Billy, had already settled, and had also informed Ken that he could play softball year-round.

Ken and Ruth had three daughters, Nancy, Karen, and Susan, two years apart. They bought a home only two blocks away from the tiny Emmanuel Baptist Church, newly built in Pacific Beach. Ruth loved being a homemaker. Both Ruth and Ken sang in the church choir, (alto and bass), and raised their children with the assurance that God loved them. Ruth and Ken’s strong faith was passed down to their daughters as well, who experienced the care of a loving God in their lives.

Ruth was a great lover of family and traditions. She greatly valued and loved each of her nieces and nephews and sisters-in-law. Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays found our small house stuffed with relatives, good food, and laughter. Ruth and sister-in-law Barbara started holiday traditions that have lasted and were passed down to their grandchildren. Christmas, especially, was a magical mix of the sacred Christ Child, Santa Claus, and holiday records on the stereo.

Ruth’s greatest joy were her six grandchildren, and she never tired of them! She was remarkable that way, watching and playing with a toddler and a school age child all day without falling asleep by five. She had the energy of a much younger person. She loved to laugh and be with her family most of all, which continued as a theme for her entire life.