Ruth Oliver Cummings

October 30, 1921 - January 17, 2020

A faithful and remarkable woman, Ruth lived a fruitful life of 98 years, loving

others through her service to them. She was with her family over Christmas then

passed peacefully after a brief illness. Married to Jack Oliver (52 yrs) then Stan

Cummings (15 yrs), she is survived and will be missed by her children: Tom

Oliver (Lynne), Carol Woods (Bruce), Patty Neilson (Murray) and Bill Oliver

(Kathy). 11 grandchildren: Kristy Whittaker, Jason Oliver, Casey Woods, Amy

Knautz, Andrea Kinloch, Adam & Kyle Neilson, Brie Mcwade, Jillian, Alex, &

Sophie Oliver. And 24 great grandchildren! According to Ruth, the secret to her

longevity were the 4 G's: God, Genes, Grand and Great children, and the Gym.

She will also be missed by those at Granville Chapel, Young Life, Regent

College and Crofton Manor.

A Memorial will be held Friday, February 7th at 2 PM

at Granville Chapel 5901 Granville Street, Vancouver with Tea following.

In lieu of flowers, kindly donate to Young Life of Canada in Ruth's memory.

To send condolences please visit www.dignitymemorial.com

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Ruth was the eldest child of Percy and Ida Rich born in 1921 at her grandparents' farm at Union

Point, Manitoba. Her brother George and sister Grace were added to the family in 1926 and

1928, respectively.

The family spent their growing up years in the Tuxedo area of Winnipeg. Limited school

availability dictated that Ruth would attend a one-room school until Grade 10, when she moved

to Riverbend Private School. In 1938 she enrolled at the University of Manitoba, graduating in

1942 with a degree in Home Economics.

Ruth met Jack at her church in Winnipeg when she was 15 years old. He was 20 years old. Her

father insisted that she finish her university degree before she married. Over the course of the

five year courtship, Jack drove to Winnipeg many times from his work in Moose Jaw and

Saskatoon and drove back home all night on Sunday. When they were not together, they wrote

to each other daily.

Jack and Ruth married on May 30, 1942 and moved to Calgary, where Jack was employed by

Robin Hood Flour Mills. Tom was born in October 1943. Shortly thereafter, Jack fell in love with

the West Coast and the family moved to Vancouver in February 1944. By then, Jack had

changed career paths and was working in the construction industry with Bennett and White. In

1946 Jack branched out on his own in CJ Oliver Limited, a house building venture, the start of

many entrepreneurial businesses.

After a number of short term stays in houses he built, during which Carol was born in 1945, then

Patty in 1949, the family settled down in 1951 in their home at 6170 Blenheim Street. Bill

followed in 1953. That remained the family home until 1974, following which Jack and Ruth lived

in several other locations in Vancouver. Ruth used her love of hospitality and embarrassment of

a large home to fill it with people. Dinner parties, pool and tennis soirees for 100 (she had a

recipe card for hamburgers for 100, busloads of teens sleeping on the floor on their way to

Malibu and twenty different boarders). Jack often retreated to his bedroom which had quiet and a

lovely chair. Neighbours were welcome to come and swim anytime the flag was raised and

Ruth could be found ironing by the pool in order to keep kids safe and catch some rays which

she loved. It is a good thing that in those days deliveries could be organized by Superior

Produce, the Meat Market, the dry cleaner and the drug store.

Her life took a major change in direction when Jack passed away in 1994. Three years later

she married Stan Cummings, who was an old friend of the family she had known for many

years. Stan died 15 years later in 2012. Following Stan’s passing, Ruth moved to a suite on

Balsam Street for a few years and then moved to Crofton Manor in 2017, where she lived until

her final illness.

Ruth was a very organized woman with a strong heart and aptitude for service. She enjoyed

involvement in a wide variety of committees, boards and organizations. Included in that list are;

Granville Chapel, Intervarsity Christian Fellowship, Young LIfe, Regent College, Bible Study

Fellowship, Canadian Bible Society, Vancouver Volunteer Bureau and Together We Can.

Always a risk-taker, Ruth bungee jumped at age 69 and still holds the record for the oldest

person to ride the zip-line at Rockridge Canyon. A feat last accomplished at age 94.

Ruth was very disciplined in her use of time and resources. She had high expectations for

herself and others. At the same time she was also generous, compassionate and hospitable.

She was a force - our matriarch, a mentor to many and was always up for asking her family and

friends how their faith journey was doing.

She leaves a rich legacy of 4 children, 11 grandchildren, 23-and-counting great-grandchildren,

and many friends young and old whose lives were enriched for knowing her.