Ruth Spears

A graveside service for Ruth will be held Tuesday, September 20, 2022 at Westminster Memorial Park, 14801 Beach Blvd., Westminster, CA 92683.

THIS IS WHAT I KNEW ABOUT MY MOM AND HER FAMILY

Pat’s Information on Mom 9-9-22

My Mom, Alice “Ruth” Spears was born on September 20, 1929, in Burlington Kansas. Mom always went by “Ruth”her whole life until she had to use her legal name in Leisure World, Seal Beach.

mHer Father, Richard (Dick) Burton, was from Oklahoma. Her Mother, Vivian May

(Shepp) Burton, was from Pasadena, California. Grandpa Burton’s family was from England. His family was one of the first 100,000 people to do the Oklahoma Land Rush on 9/16/1893, to gain a piece of the available two million acres that was the Cherokee Strip of Oklahoma/Kansas border to claim for farming. I was always told when I was younger that we were the 32nd cousin to Pocahontas on Grandpa’s side. Grandma Burton’s family traces back to Rhine Valley in France, where in the 1500's they received Knighthood from the King. Records show them moving to the United States in 1751 to Germantown, Pennsylvania in Somerset County to keep their Protestant Religion as her families grandparent was a Ordained Bishop. Grandma's Family came over from Holland in 1751, on Ship St. Andrew, Captain James Abercrombie according to records.

Mom, Alice Ruth, was a middle child, one of 6 children: Her brother, Harland Richard, born 12-29-1925, with 4 children; her sister, Lois May, born 4-9-1928,with 4 children; Mom, Alice Ruth, born 9-20-1929, with 5 children; her sister, Dorthy Jean born 8-14-1931,with 1 child; her sister Mary Louise born 11-16-1936, with 2 children;her sister Billie Carolyn born 7-26-1945, with 4children. I heard grandpa really wanted a boy and that's how Aunt Billie got her name.

Mom was never very religious. I don’t remember Mom ever going to church,other than for weddings or funerals. I never knew that mom was Protestant until just recently when I noticed it mentioned on her funeral arrangements. Mom made all her own funeral arrangements for both her and my Sister Jeannie after Dad died. Mom was always so concerned and did not want us kids to have to worry about her arrangements at the end of her life.

Mom had 5 children, 8 grandchildren, 26 great, great, grandchildren, 9 plus 4 more on the way, great, great, great, grandchildren. Wow, what a legacy mom has left behind. To say the least, Mom spent most of her life busy with her family.

In 1929 was the year the stock market crashed that led up to the Great Depression.

In 1937, Mom’s dad was a farmer and after the “Dust Bowl” occurred, they all had to move from Kansas back to 756 Manzanita ,Pasadena California to live with mom’s grandparents, Edwin Benjamin Shepp, and Grandma’s Step mother Lillian.

In 1938 Mom moved to Holtville California when Uncle Frank and Aunt Eleanor gave Grandpa Burton a job on their farm.

Eventually Grandpa Burton bought his own farm in Holtville. Grandpa built a house on his farm. Mom lived in Holtville where she graduated from Holtville High School in 1946.

In 1946 Mom met my Dad, Robert Breckenridge Spears, when he returned from World War II. Mom was doing clerical work in an office at the time.

About my Dad:

Dad was stationed at Camp Beale Ca; he was in the 331st Infantry regiment and discharged 7/12/1946. Dad received the WWII Victory Medal, Army of Occupation Medal, and European African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal. Dad was a Truck Driver, Combat Infantryman and Technician 5th grade. Dad’s battles were at Ardennes, Rhineland, Central Europe, Go 40, WD45.

My Dad Robert Breckenridge Spears was born on March 31, 1926 in Quanah Texas -adjacent to the Oklahoma state line. Quanah is named after the last and greatest Comanche chief Quanah Parker (yes there is a lot of Indian around our family in the past).

Dad’s mother was Eva Kendrick, Born in Pauls Valley, “Chickasaw Nation” Oklahoma. My Mom still received the oil right lease money of around $25 a year, from the White Men buying the Indians out of the 800 thousand acre area. Eva was 25 years old when my dad was born; Dad’s father was Earl Spears, born in Vernon Texas. Earl was a farmer and was 24 when dad was born. My Dad’s father had 11 brothers and sisters which I never knew until a few years ago. My dad’s father passed away when my dad was 2 years old. My dad’s mom Eva married Clyde Hampton Bumgardner, who was the only grandfather I kinew on my dad’s side. My dad always called him Jose, I never knew why. Clyde lived one week shy of being 100 years old. Grandpa spent almost every Christmas holiday with me and my kids, but lived in Jacumba, CA on his own until he passed.

Mom and Dad were married on April 26, 1947 at Gretna Green in Yuma Arizona. Mom was 18, Dad was 21.

On January 2, 1948, my sister Jeannie Ruth was born in El Centro, California. My oldest sister Jeannie was a large baby, born blind and with cerebral palsy. I was told they had to use forceps on Jeannie and that might have caused her cerebral palsy. They did not know why Jeannie was blind.

I am sure this must have been very difficult for my parents. Mom and Dad lived at 924 Harold Avenue, Calexico, California, in a house my dad helped build. It was next door to Dad’s mom, Eva, and the house Dad also helped build. My Dad was very close to his mom Eva. I remember Grandma Bumgardner the most when I was growing up. Grandma spoiled all 5 of us. It was always fun to go to grandma’s house. I always wanted to make my grandchildren feel like my grandma made me feel so loved. I could tell grandma couldn’t wait to see all of us. Grandma Bumgardner passed away in 1965. I remember we were all devastated when it happened, as it was unexpected of a heart attack. It seemed like all of our lives changed when grandma passed away.

In 1948 Mom and Dad moved away from Calexico and bought a house in Bellflower, California. I heard it was to get help for Jeannie. Dad worked two jobs at a gas station and at Reems. Dad eventually went to work for Aerojet General as an inspector and retired from there after being there for 27 years.

On February 2, 1951 my brother, Robert Breckenridge Jr., was born in Holtville, California; at my Grandparents Vivian and Dick Burton.

On March 3, 1952, I was born, Patricia Ann in Holtville at my Grandparent’s house. I later heard mom had us at my grandmother’s house because she didn’t trust doctors after what happened to Jeannie.

On July 9, 1953 my sister Sharon Elaine was born in Whittier.

In 1953 Mom and Dad had to move from Bellflower when the 605 freeway came through and bought their new home. They moved to 12001 S. Painter Avenue Whittier and that’s where we all grew up.

On November 24, 1954 my brother Gary Earl was born. Gary passed away, 3-26-1983 at the age of 29. I never knew what happened for sure. I was told maybe PCP was a drug going around at the time. There were plenty of drugs in the neighborhood at that time. Mom and Dad were devastated for sure.

Mom and Dad loved to bowl and had several trophies to prove it. I remember spending a lot of late nights at the bowling alleys.

I remember Mom and Dad always playing cards with family and friends.

Mom and Dad liked to go to the horse races and I remember spending a lot of time there when I was a kid. It was always fun. When Dad would win, we would always get something new.

Mom and Dad liked to party and I would say Mom and Dad never met a stranger. All were welcome to join in on the party.

Mom always loved gardening and spent most of her time in her 1/2 acre backyard with her fruit trees, garden and flowers once all of us kids were grown one. Mom was very proud of her garden and I loved to get her tomatoes the most. Mom loved being outside.

Mom loved wind chimes, hummingbirds and butterflies.

Mom was very patriotic and always flew the American Flag. Mom also donated monthly to the paralyzed veterans even when she was broke.

Mom also loved to travel. Mom and Dad have been to most of the United States, Canada, Mexico and Europe.

Later in life Mom and Dad bought a motorhome and enjoyed camping at the Kern River, near Bakersfield, and would take the grandkids with them. The kids loved to go with them and river raft on the Kern river.

Mom joined Curves Gym at the age of 73 in 2003. I think it was one of the best things my mom did for herself after dad died on July 30, 2000. Mom looked great and I knew she felt great about herself. Mom met many great everlasting friends at Curves. Mom was one of the original 6 “Luncheon Ladies” of the group. To the very end Mom would receive invitations to their luncheons. I was so happy for Mom to have such a great connection with friends.

Mom was always very adventurous and when she turned 80 she skydived out of an airplane with her grandsons. One of her favorite things she ever did. I remember I was so afraid for her I wouldn’t go. Mom was going to have her knees replaced and wanted to skydive before her knee replacement surgery.

My Mom was always a very strong woman and never complained. My Mom was always happy, nice and everyone loved being around my mom. I have not ever heard anything bad about my mom. Everybody loved my mom.

Mom lived in her Whittier house until she moved in 2014 to Leisure World located in Seal Beach. Mom lived in her Whittier home for 61 years. There were fond, joyous and great memories in the Whittier house that everyone enjoyed.

Mom and I were never really close. I got married when I was 16 years old in 1969, and started my own life and family. We would always spend most holidays together, but other than that between work and my family I was pretty busy.

In 2014 Mom needed some extra help. Pam, one of mom’s friends from the Curves Gym, called me when she noticed mom was falling a lot at her Whittier home. Pam recommended to me that my mom must receive help immediately to get her out of her big house and into something safer, for mom’s own good. I was happy to help out my lovely Mom.

I had been trying to get mom and dad to move to Leisure World since I moved to Seal Beach in 1997. I knew they would love it.

In December 2014 I immediately helped mom move to a smaller and safer home in Leisure World.

Leisure World is a senior community where mom could live safer and more comfortably. Thankfully mom was only 4 miles from my home. I could now help mom when she needed it. My mom was stronger than most 85 year olds at the time.

In February 2020 Mom fell and was rushed to Los Alamitos Hospital. Mom almost lost her foot and all of this happened during Covid. I didn’t think mom was going to make it and was told by doctors I would be lucky if mom pulled through because she was so weak. When Mom finally arrived home, Mom and I realized I was not strong enough to help maneuver mom on my own. We both almost fell. I had to hire caregivers to help my mom. The caregivers were very expensive. What a nightmare the caregivers were. Not showing up, all the bickering. I had to have cameras installed, because one caregiver told me the other one was abusing mom. I didn’t wish that on anyone ever.

In April 2021 Mom fell again and was rushed to UC-Irvine Hospital where she broke her pelvic after receiving her 2nd Covid shot. Again I didn’t think mom was going to make it. Mom was put on Hospice this time. MOM PULLED THROUGH… ONCE AGAIN!

In January, 2022 Mom contracted the Covid Virus. My strong mom was so weak she couldn’t get out of bed. I found out later both her knee replacements had fractures around the leg bones, and poor mom even had a blood clot in her right leg. Sadly Mom would never walk again.

I had met Scott 3 years earlier. Thank God. Scott had helped me take care of my Mom more than anyone else. But even with Scott’s help, it was not enough. In the end Mom needed 24/7 care by professionals.

I prayed everyday for answers on what I should do.

I went searching for a group home for Mom. I would not place my mother anywhere I wouldn’t stay myself. After looking at 13 different homes I found Kingdom Works, to help take care of Mom. The staff treated my mom like family. Kingdom Works were very accommodating to any request I made for my mom. They even let me bring her wind chimes. Nicki, one of the owners, is a registered nurse and her husband David, a minister. They even had bible study for everyone there. Even though mom was not very religious she liked having Bible Study with David. I couldn't ask for a more perfect place to take care of my Mom.

Even though Mom could not get out of bed anymore, she lived her last days very well taken care of by Kingdom Works entire staff.

To say the least, during all of these tough times mom and I became very close. I was very grateful for the time mom and I had spent together. I love and will always truly miss my mom. Rest in peace Mom you deserve it.