Ruby Claire Gutschmidt

Ruby Claire Gutschmidt was born May 8, 1929 and died April 4, 2023. Her father made his journey in 1914, from Switzerland to America where he joined the Army and was discharged in 1917 as a Corporal and a proud American citizen. Ruby was born in Tennant, California, a logging town located deep in the forest of Siskiyou County where her father worked for the Long-Bell Lumber Company until later moving on to farming. The third of five children, Ruby grew up speaking Swiss until learning English in school. Summer days on the farm in Marysville, California were spent working in the bean fields with her brother and three sisters in the hot sun. Life was hard work and Ruby grew up with a work ethic that championed all others.

As she finished school and left the farm, Ruby entered the medical world of nursing. Graduating in 1951 with her RN, Ruby worked many areas of the hospital before considering a change. She completed the Transworld Airlines Stewardess program. While considering this direction, she saw a sign in a window in San Francisco that changed her life. It read, “Foreign Placement for Nurses,” and led her to a position at the Kahuku Sugar Mill Plantation Hospital in Oahu, Hawaii. After a year there, in 1953, she met the man she would love for the rest of her life, Earl, who was serving in the Navy on Oahu. Ruby thought he was so serious and that she needed to make him smile! She moved back to California and worked as an Assistant Head Nurse for the Acute Isolation wing, where she cared for many polio and meningitis patients. She saw the first polio vaccine come into use here, as well as the very first successful treatment (ACTH) for meningitis. These were big medical break-throughs that she was so excited and proud to see take place!

Earl and Ruby were married January 15, 1955 and eventually settled in Kirkland, Washington where they raised three children, Lisa, Amy and Dan. Ruby set her career aside except for a few years while her children were in college. While their family was young, she was always home where she provided love and care and will be remembered for her delicious cookies and pies. She loved being outside in her garden with corn and green beans always fresh, but loved most of all her roses, all the many varieties with their wonderful aromas. Ruby has always made us feel like we were so blessed, loved and the greatest people in her life.

Finally settling in Yakima, Ruby has been embraced in love and is survived by her husband, Earl, her three children, ten grandchildren, 12 great grandchildren and her sister, Rose Woods.

She was hard-working, courageous, strong, independent and determined to accomplish anything she started. Her focus was always with honesty, love, kindness and generosity towards others. We miss her so very much and can only fill the empty spot we’re left with when we gather and share her stories. We find peace and comfort in knowing that she is now with our dear Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ and look forward to the day when we will see her once again.

She is predeceased by her parents Rudolph and Sophia, her brother Ernest, her sisters Lilly and Elsie.

We wish to express our heartfelt thanks to all who cared for Ruby; MultiCare Yakima Memorial Hospital, Good Samaritan Rehabilitation and Fieldstone Assisted Living. We extend thanks for the many kind acts of sympathy and understanding expressed by all.

Ruby’s Funeral Service is on April 21st, 10am at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 801 Tieton Drive in Yakima.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Arrangements are by Keith and Keith Funeral Home, Yakima. 509 453-9155.