Ruth K. Newman

Ruth K. Newman April 19, 1922 - March 8, 2012 Services: Friday, March 16, 2012, 10 a.m. In loving memory of Ruth K. Newman, 89, who passed away peacefully on March 8, 2012 in Bakersfield, CA. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, March 16, 2012 at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, 124 Columbus. Msgr. Michael Braun will officiate and pallbearers will be "Grandma Ruth's" eleven grandchildren. Ruth was born on April 19, 1922 at her parents' farmhouse on their homesteaded land near Pukwana, S.D. She was the treasured and only daughter with four older brothers. After a year of junior college, Ruth took a position as a teacher in a one-room rural schoolhouse in South Dakota. She taught grades 1 through 8 and prided herself on teaching all her students to read, younger and older, because she loved to read herself and didn't want any of them to miss out. It was a very snowy winter and the bigger boys would help keep the wood stove going for warmth. Ruth grew weary of the cold and snow and when summer came, she took her savings, caught a ride with a family that was headed west, and arrived in Taft, CA to visit a cousin, who sent her for a job interview at the Sanitex Cleaners there. She was hired; and later fell in love with the boss/owner, who became her husband on July 1, 1942. This was her "one and only", Richard K. "Stubby" Newman, and they had a wonderfully happy 56 years together, raising their four children and moving to their home in Bakersfield in 1954, where Ruth resided until her last day. When their children were school-age, Ruth was Mother's Club president at St. Joseph's school and continued over the years to volunteer in her children's activities. She also worked in the business office of Sparkle Cleaners, which she and Stubby co-owned. She took up golf in her late 30's, and she loved to play, socialize, and compete. Ruth played at Bakersfield and Stockdale Country Clubs. She served as President of the Women's Organization and as golf chairman at BCC. She and Stubby also spent many happy times playing golf and seeing friends at their second home near the 15th green at Vandenburg Village. Ruth made friends wherever she went and stayed in touch with most of them over the years. She was deeply interested in and close to her South Dakota family, who all loved her dearly. Ruth was always a loving, generous, caring and fun mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She taught all her family to love, to forgive, and to adapt and change when circumstances called for it. When her beloved Stubby passed away in 1998, she never complained about being alone, but renewed old friendships and made new ones, especially around the bridge table. As her life changed, she accepted it all with grace, dignity and gratitude for what she still had in her life, especially her family. Ruth is survived by her brother, Dale Korzan and wife Ida of Placerville, CA; her son Jeff Newman and wife Linda; her daughter Nancy Kovacevich; her daughter Mary Disharoon and husband Rob of Petaluma, CA; and son Richard Newman III, and (late) wife Nondus. Her loving grandchildren are Jeff Jr. and Adrienne Newman, Michael Newman, John and Jennifer Kovacevich, Greg and Karen Kovacevich, Adam and Janelle Kovacevich, Jenna Kovacevich (fiance Scott Gamba), Michael and Kelly Disharoon, Laura Disharoon (fiance Jack Melkonian), Steven Disharoon, Richard Newman IV, and Joseph Newman. Her great-grandchildren are P.J. Gallagher, Ryan Newman, Matthew Newman, Sophie Kovacevich, Curtis Kovacevich, Faye Kovacevich, Amelia Kovacevich, Phoebe Disharoon, Richard Newman V, Carter Newman and Xavier Newman. Donations in Ruth's memory would be welcomed by Stars Musical Theatre, 1931 Chester Avenue, Bakersfield, CA 93301, where she enjoyed and supported many musical productions. At Ruth's services on Friday, guests are invited to wear bright colors, reflecting the joy and happiness in living that she showed us all.