Ruth Grace Berge

Ruth Grace Dodd Berge passed away at home of natural causes. Ruth leaves behind a daughter Wendy Shalita and her husband Anthony of Alexandria, VA, a daughter Barbara Berge of Springfield, VA, a grandson Robert Stanley and his wife Elina of Leesburg, VA and two Great Grandchildren, Katya and Benjamin Stanley. Ruth Grace’s two great grandchildren were a source of pure joy and delight the last ten years of her life.

Ruth Grace was born in Houston, Texas. At an early age her family moved to Corpus Christi, Tx. Ruth spent her childhood through young adulthood basking in the tropical climate of Corpus Christi. Ruth has four cousins that are more like sisters than cousins. These cousins, Marilyn Gregory, Carol Graber, Zella Cook and Francis Zachary, spent their youth together and in later years made it a tradition of a twice yearly reunion. They travelled to New Orleans, Miami Beach, San Antonio, Houston, Austin and Corpus Christi. Ruth enjoyed living with Carol in the rainforest in Ecuador, often staying for months at a time. It didn’t matter what continent or city they were in, as long as they could continue their tradition of playing cards and laughing late into the evening. There isn’t anything these five women wouldn’t have done for one another.

In 1944 Ruth met her husband, Hal Berge, in Corpus Christi while he was attending Flight School. They married and began a military life traveling all over the United States and England. They made their retirement home in Falls Church, Virginia. She and her late husband, Brig. General James ‘Hal’ Berge, USMC, were very fortunate to have had the opportunity to travel to many fascinating and romantic countries such as Greece, Australia, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, and France.

Ruth was an imaginative and creative woman, an artist full of wanderlust. She engaged everyone she met, whether a receptionist, artist, or a worker in her building. She was a genuine person, what you saw is what you got. She always had time for everyone. No matter where she was, or who she was with, she lived her life like a star. This world is definitely a little less without Ruth Grace. She will be remembered and missed each day.

Services and internment will be held at Arlington National Cemetery at 3:00 pm on Thursday, March 12, 2015.