Ruth Louise Woods

Ruth Louise Woods, 94 years old, passed away at Legacy Meridian Park Hospital on Friday evening, May 5, 2023. Ruth was born on July 19, 1928 in Ithaca, New York to James and Lillian (Holden) Washburn. She moved to San Diego with her parents at 13 months old because of her father’s health condition. Ruth was a very good student in the San Diego school system, and graduated at 16 from Hoover High School in 1945.

Ruth met Richard (Dick) Woods at the East San Diego Christian Church. Dick had started coming to the church in order to play on the church softball team. They were instantly attracted and began to spend time together. Ruth was the one who led Dick to know the Lord Jesus, and he was baptized. Dick secretly asked Ruth to marry him when he was 16 and she was 18. Ruth left San Diego, and attended Northwest Christian College in Eugene, Oregon. They kept their engagement secret for several years, exchanging letters during her college years. After her graduation, they were married on July 22,1951 at the East San Diego Christian Church by Anor Emerson.

Since Dick had started classes at Northwest Christian College in 1950, they returned to Eugene for him to continue to pursue his ministerial education. Life in college with Dick working 3 jobs and having their first child, Gary, became overwhelming, so they returned to San Diego where Dick worked as an appliance repairman for Sears and Roebuck Company. Together Dick and Ruth worked with the young people at the East San Diego Christian Church and later at the Chula Vista Christian Church. Ruth also played the organ at both churches. She loved playing the organ, and was especially talented at the Pipe organ. Raising roses and African violets were two of her hobbies.

In August 1967 Dick and Ruth felt led by God to return to Northwest Christian College so that Dick could finish his ministerial preparation. By then, they had added four more children. Dick graduated from college in 1969. He served as associate pastor at the Springfield Christian Church 1968-1970. In 1970 Dick and Ruth moved their family to Selma, California where they served Selma Christian Church for 3 years. They then moved to serve the El Cajon Christian Church for many years, followed by Clear Creek Christian Church, Clear Creek, Indiana in 1986. Finally, they serve the La Plata Christian Church, La Plata Missouri. In 1995 they retired to Dewey, Arizona where they served as interim pastor and eventually moved to Tigard, Oregon in 2002. During their retirement years they were active members at the

Tigard Christian Church and served as the Seniors’ pastor.

Ruth was preceded in death by her husband, Richard (Dick) Woods in 2021. She is survived by her children: Gary Woods (Judy), Mark Woods (Theresa), Cory Woods (Margery), John Woods (Janet) and Lori Smucker (Lonnie). Ruth had 10 grandchildren: Kendra Stephenson, Harmony Shuart, Jack Woods, Jason Woods, Brittany Woods, Jeremiah Woods, Jonathan Woods, Alisha Buckland, Spencer Smucker and Hannah Edmonds. She was also blessed with 11 great grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday May 13th at 11 am at Winona Cemetery 9900 SW Tualatin Road Tualatin, Oregon 97062.

You are welcome to join the family to celebrate Ruth’s life.

For those who are interested to watch live on Facebook, Go to your browser and type in:

https://www.facebook.com/gary.woods.1257/