Ruth J Marsh Kirkpatrick

Ruth Jean Kirkpatrick (née Marsh) was born December 2, 1920 in Sioux City, Iowa. Her father, Ralph Marsh, was a carpenter and her mother, Edna Marsh, prior to starting a family was employed as a secretary. In addition to her younger brother, Joseph, being afflicted with Polio at a young age, the Great Depression hit the family hard. For a time, they lived in a converted chicken coop on the grandparent's farm. In town, her next door neighbor Gerry Whicher became her lifelong friend. Despite this difficult beginning, Ruth always claimed that she had lived during the best possible times.

Hoping for better opportunities, members of the extended family resettled in California. Ruth married Bernard Kirkpatrick also of Sioux City at the start of World War II. At the end of he War, Bernard joined her in California. Before her husband's return, Ruth worked in an aircraft factory building planes to support the war effort. She recalled that the last Mustang she worked on was painted pink and signed by the women who built it. One positive result of that terrible war was that she built strong relationships with other women. Of particular note, were her friendships with her sister-in-law, Bobbie Marsh, and Joan Poulvsen, the English war bride of her cousin John. Other friends have predeceased her.

Following the war, she continued to work while Bernard attended college on the GI Bill. Ruth became a stay-at-home mom with the birth of her first child, Patricia in 1947. Three years later, Linda was born and the family was complete. Vacations primarily consisted of road trips to visit family members in the Midwest or camping and fishing trips around California. Ruth built on her strong eye-hand coordination and expertise in intricate soldering to begin working in the Southern California aerospace industry in the mid-1950s. Her work was included in the first satellite to be successfully launched by the United States. She left the workforce once again to follow her husband and his career. During the 1960s Ruth and her family lived in Washington DC, Portland, Oregon and San Francisco. The 1970s brought big changes as Bernard's service-connected disability made him unable to work. Always resilient, Ruth was able to transfer her skills to the consumer electronics industry where she worked as a supervisor.

During her 30 years of retirement in Oregon, Ruth and Bernard undertook many long road trips in the USA and Canada. They also travelled internationally throughout Northern and Southern Europe, as well as, the Middle East. She also enjoyed gardening and crafts. Finally, Ruth and Bernard moved to Astor House in Newberg, Oregon. This was a wonderful move for them both. Ruth, who loved games and was more social, could participate in the many activities that were offered in the independent living community. She enjoyed Bean Bag Baseball, Wei Bowling and Poker. She had many trophies and friends to show for her efforts. In 2011, she decided to join her oldest daughter in Atlanta, GA. Again, this was a happy move for both. Ruth continued her travels with Patricia with trips to Scandinavia and the Caribbean.

Ruth is survived by her daughters Linda Kirkpatrick of Spokane, WA and Patricia McFarland of Atlanta, GA; her sister-in-law, Bobbie Marsh of Oroville, CA; and cousins, Dan Marsh and Dale Marsh. Special acknowledgement is due Trudie Sloan whose friendship meant so much to both Ruth and Bernard.