Ruth Nobrega

Ruth Esteen Swindell Nobrega was born on July 23, 1913. She died at home on July, 30, 2013, one week after celebrating her 100th birthday surrounded by family and friends. Ruth was born outside of Greenfield, TN, part of present day Weakley County. Her father’s job as a railroad engineer caused the family to move frequently. Ruth’s fondest childhood memories were those of the extended times that she lived with her grandmother, Nannie Bell, and grandfather, Harve, on the Drewry family farm near Shades Bridge, TN.

In 1948 Ruth moved to San Diego from Lansing MI, where she had worked as a “Rosie the Riveter” aircraft inspector. She often told the story of how she traveled by train from Chicago to San Diego. Dressed in her finest heavy winter clothes, as the train traveled west she told of how she had removed, layer by layer, all of her heavy winter clothes. After one week in San Diego, she wrote a letter back home telling them to sell her things, she was never going back to cold weather. In 1950 she was introduced by her brother to the love of her life, Gus, and on Christmas Day 1951 they were married. Ruth worked for over 35 years as a “fur finisher”, building up and putting linings into fur coats; working first at Hunick’s Department Store, then Furs by Graf, and finally for Noonan Furs. She enjoyed traveling, backyard Hawaiian style barbeques with family and friends, dressing well, and her See’s chocolate.

She is predeceased by: her loving husband of 41 years, August (Gus) Ferreira Nobrega, of Kalihi, HI; her mother and father, Alvin Walter Swindell and MayBell Drewry Swindell; and her siblings Harry Swindell, Nell Swindell White, and Thelma Swindell Ward. She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Phyllis and Dana Chapin of Jamul, and her grand-daughters Laura and Amanda.

A viewing will be held Tuesday, August 6, 2013, from 1:00p-2:00p in the “Little Chapel of the Roses,” followed immediately by graveside services