Ruth Luella Dunafon

Ruth Luella Dunafon (Jan 30 1934–Dec 16 2025), a career police officer, was born in rural Darrington WA, one of three children born to Donald McCulloch and Carrie Hansen. The family moved to Watsonville CA in 1945 where she graduated from high school in 1952 at Monte Vista Christian School. She moved to Seattle and attended Northwest Bible College from 1952–55. Ruth then attended Yakima Junior College, 1958–59, Portland State College, 1960–61, and finally completed her B.A. from Cascade College in 1961.

With her teachers training, she taught 7th grade in Washington State. But her real career wouldn’t begin until she joined the Portland Police Bureau in April 1964. She graduated from the Portland Police Academy that year, one of four women out of a class of 44, in an era when police women (but not men) were required to have a college degree. Ruth was hired for the Women’s Protective Division, and later spent many years in the demanding Juvenile Division.

Comments on her police work by her superiors include “she is a loyal, conscientious officer; completely dependable, willing to do anything assigned” “a good investigator; always digs deep for additional information” “no one is more ‘people oriented’”. Ruth was noted for her community outreach skills, making many effective presentations to schools and civic organizations like Kiwanis and Rotary. She combined intelligent compassion with the rugged duties of professional policing. She was also a member of the Portland Police Beneficiary Association, Inc. After 25 years of service, she retired in April 1989, and remained active in The Portland Retired Police & Widows Association. Characteristically, she continued to combine her police vocation with community outreach through the Sunshine Division.

On June 12, 1970 she married Eldon Lavern Dunafon, also a career police officer with the Portland Police Bureau. To juggle the duties raising two daughters, Ruth worked day shift and Eldon worked night shift for many years.

Ruth was an ardent Christian, a lifelong member of the Assemblies of God Church. She supported many faith-based causes in her long life, including her sister’s missionary work in Mexico. While living in Portland, she was active in Adult & Teen Challenge USA, a program designed to help recovering drug users within a confessional Christian framework. Ever the teacher, Ruth taught adult Sunday School classes for many years at Parkrose Heights Assembly of God, then led senior fellowship groups at Faith Chapel Assembly of God. After moving to Medford, she taught a women's Bible study group at Relevant Church until finally stepping down last year. At the holiday season, Ruth enthusiastically sponsored Operation Christmas Child, a Samaritan’s Purse program to send small boxes of gifts to needy children across the globe.

As a lived expression of her Christian ethics, Ruth was incredibly supportive of her nuclear and extended family, sharing in their joys and heartbreaks. In the 1970s–80s, in response to her daughter’s diagnosis, she worked with the nascent Cystic Fibrosis parent support group in the Portland area. She faithfully marked lifecycle events, attending graduations and weddings. Keeping up with the times, her correspondence with her far-flung family came to include e-mail, video calls and texting. She oversaw countless convivial gatherings in her homes in Portland and Medford.

Knitting and crocheting were passions of hers. Combining handwork and knitting machine expertise, Ruth turned miles of yarn into expertly crafted sweaters, scarves and hats, worn proudly by members of her family and those lucky enough to own them. She gifted and sold afghans, doilies, and crocheted Barbie doll clothing. She was a decades-long member of the Oregon Metropolitan Machine Knitters Guild, learning from and mentoring other devotees in the technical arts of the digital knitting machine.

Eldon introduced Ruth and the girls to annual excursions in the foothills of Mount Hood for huckleberries. Friends and relatives received jars of Ruth’s huckleberry jam at the holidays for many years. For quieter hours, she enjoyed puzzles and numerous card games (always playing to win).

In 2017, Ruth fulfilled a lifelong dream of cruising to Alaska with her family.

Ruth is survived by a sister, two daughters, a son-in-law, two grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. A public viewing will take place at Lincoln Memorial Park & Funeral Home/Dignity Memorial, Portland OR, December 27, 11am-1pm, and a memorial service beginning at 1pm. The interment will take place at Willamette National Cemetery December 29.

If you’re able to, please make a donation in Ruth's honor to the Portland Police Bureau’s Sunshine Division, which provides immediate food relief to Portland metro families and individuals in need.

https://sunshinedivision.org