Ruth Audrey Warwick

Ruth Audrey Peterson Warwick was born on October 15, 1930 in Hartford, Connecticut to her parents Ruth and Roy Peterson. Ruth, aka Ruthie to family and friends, was a quiet child who kept to herself and enjoyed playing with her dolls. She shared many stories of her childhood where she enjoyed the Atlantic beaches in the summer and ice skating in the winter. She shared many wonderful adventures with her sister, Adrienne.

As a teenager, Ruth was a member of the International Order of the Rainbow for Girls, a service organization for girls. Later, her daughter, granddaughter, and great granddaughters would all follow in her footsteps by joining the organization.

After high school, Ruth attended Nursing School in New Haven, Connecticut. It was there that she met her best friend, Barbara. After they both graduated nursing school, they took off in Ruthie’s 1940’s Pontiac, that Ruth bought herself, and they drove cross-country to move to San Diego, California!

Ruth was a Registered Nurse, working in the operating room at Mercy Hospital and Chula Vista Community Hospital (later to become Sharp Chula Vista). It was here, in San Diego, that she met her future husband, George Warwick, who was then a jockey’s agent at Caliente. They got married in 1953 in Yuma, Arizona and settled down to build a family together.

George and Ruth had two children, Carol and Robert. Ruth stepped away from her nursing career to be a full-time mother and homemaker. Ruth was an excellent baker and also could be spotted doing just about everything around the house – mowing the lawn, laundry, cooking, fixing things and more! She held down the fort at home while her husband built his career as a real estate developer and thoroughbred horse breeder.

Her husband died unexpectedly in 1991, leaving her a widow in her early 60’s. She survived breast cancer shortly after George’s passing, beat kidney cancer in 2010 and continued to live a full

life.

Ruth LOVED to golf! For decades, she could be spotted every Tuesday and most Thursdays playing golf with the other ladies at the San Diego Country Club. She played up until her late 80’s when her eyesight made it difficult for her to continue.

Ruth volunteered for many years at Sharp Hospital, taking meal orders from parents and helping wherever needed. Ruth’s favorite role was being a Grandma to her Grandchildren and Great Grandchildren. Grammy Ruth, as she was affectionately called, was very involved in the lives of her Grandchildren and Great-Grandchildren. Summers were always spent with Grammy – building forts, making cookies and playing in her backyard. She was always supportive of their activities and was happiest when she was helping out.

Ruth was diagnosed with dementia in 2023 and it slowly took away her once sharp memory. Ruth continued to be surrounded by family until her last breath. Ruth passed away peacefully on March 23, 2025 at the age of 94.

Ruth is survived by her children, Carol Warwick Thomas and Robert Warwick; her sister Adrienne Ende; her grandchildren Crystal, Brandon and Andrew; and her great-grandchildren Audrey, Kaden, Drew, Avery and Mason. Ruth loved hummingbirds and now every time we see one, we think of her.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to: Ruth Warwick Nursing Scholarship, payable to "The Campanile Foundation" attention: Amy Walling, 5300 Campanile Drive, San Diego, CA 92115-9980. Note the Ruth Warwick Nursing Scholarship in the memo.