Ruth Vilma Kopec

Ruth was born on December 1, 1926, in Los Angeles, California, to Max E. and Anna H. Zimmermann. She graduated from Huntington Park High School in Los Angeles in 1944, and soon after began working for JC Penney.

While attending Church of the Open Door in Los Angeles, Ruth met her future husband, John Kopec. In June 1950, they married, beginning a lifelong love story. The following year, they purchased their first home in La Puente, California. Around the same time, John and Ruth opened their first business, Eastland Tropical Fish Hatchery in City of Industry. In the mid 1960’s they opened Hacienda Aquatics (tropical fish store) in La Puente California. Ruth balanced helping in the businesses with raising their two children. In the early 1970s, they sold the business to allow John to pursue his passion for antique Colt authentication.

John and Ruth moved to Whitmore California in 1982, and later moved to Redding in 2003 where they attended Grace Baptist Church.

Ruth had a passion for collecting Dutch ceramics, doing embroidery, and working on puzzles. She also enjoyed playing games, and treasured her trips to Kona Hawaii with John. Friends and family will remember her as having a spunky, outgoing personality, Ruth loved to joke with people anywhere she went, and could have total strangers cracking up with her humor, and her fake southern accent.

A woman of deep faith, Ruth was devoted to praying for her family and friends. She was blessed to be reunited with her beloved husband, John, just thirty-three hours after his passing. They had seventy-four wonderful years together.

Ruth is survived by her daughter Lynette Helle and son Jerry Kopec, both of Redding, as well as three grandchildren: Lorene Foster, Jennifer Wilson, and David Taylor U.S.N. John and Ruth also had nine great children.

Ruth was a devoted wife, and loving mother, a wonderful homemaker, and an AWESOME cook. She was cherished by all who knew her.

The family would like to thank Visiting Angels of Redding for such great in-home care they gave to mom and dad the last several years.

Corinthians 5:8

A Celebration of Life Service will be held at Redding Christian Fellowship at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, consider making  a donation in memory of Ruth and John, to one of their chosen charities: Elevate Camps (elevatecamps.org) or The Oikos Movement (oikosmovement.com).