Ruth Finders Blake, 98, passed away March 20, 2018, in CA. She is a former resident of Ferguson, Gilman and Cedar Falls. Mrs. Blake was born in Ferguson on March 17, 1920, to Boston and Bessie Idso Finders. She graduated from Ferguson High School in1937. In 1940, she was married to Wallace Blake, of Marshalltown. Wally was the son of Oral and Stella Blake. Wally and Ruth owned and operated two weekly newspapers: The Benton County Star in Norway, IA and then The Central Iowa Journal in Gilman, IA. The couple moved to various towns while Wally pursued a career in media and public relations. They moved to California in 1957. Ruth received a Bachelor of Arts from UCLA and enjoyed a long career as executive secretary in Los Angeles County administration. She was an avid genealogy researcher and wrote books detailing the history of her family and of Ferguson. She received awards for her poetry, and enjoyed quilting, singing, playing guitar and piano. Ruth was active in her church.
Ruth was preceded in death by her husband and parents, brothers Carroll Finders and Dale Finders, and sister Norma (Willis) Dowden, of Marshalltown.
She is survived by one sister Thelma (Herbert) Bryant, of Vinton. She is also survived by all of her children: Judy (Richard) Kissell, of Kingman, AZ, Kathy Trout, of Chino, CA, Linda (Wendell) Pepperdine, of Eugene, OR, and David (Janice) Blake, of Grants PASS, OR. there are seven grandchildren, ten great-grandchildren and four great, great-grandchildren.
Bessie Idso Finders reported Ferguson news to the TR for many years.
Services will be held June 5 in Chino, CA at Funeraria Del Angel.
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