Virginia "Ruth" Arndt

Virginia “Ruth” Arndt, 87 of Portland OR, passed away on Tuesday, October 14, 2014. She was born on April 4, 1927 in Durango, Colorado to Arch Joseph and Francis Lucille (Petefish) Utt. She was a 1944 graduate of Roosevelt High School and attended Willamette University where she was a sorority member. Ruth married James Arndt on July 23, 1949 in Portland, Oregon and he preceded her in death on June 28, 1994. She worked in clerical for many years including Electronic Specialty (now Boeing) and in budget and financing for Mt. Hood National Forest Service from November of 1974 until her retirement in December of 1989. Ruth was a longtime active member of Savage Memorial Presbyterian Church where she taught Sunday School, was active in the Dinghies group and truly loved serving. She enjoyed sewing, reading, dog walking, ballroom dancing, cooking and entertaining and was known for her letter writing. She loved frequent trips to the Oregon Coast and was passionate about Rockaway Beach. Ruth enjoyed feeding the birds and squirrels in her backyard on 165th place and was preceded by her dogs “Shelley”, “Skitter” (dog for the deaf) and “Gigi”.

Ruth is survived by her daughter Kimberly Jo Arndt-Budreau of Portland OR; sisters Arlene Jo Berg (Don) of Tucson AZ and Lucille “Irene” Sherman of Lodi CA; grandsons Joseph “Ryan” Arndt (Jessica) and Jeffrey Joseph Arndt Jr. and great grandchildren Bryce and Blake Arndt. In addition to her husband, Ruth was preceded by her son Jeffrey Joseph Arndt on June 23, 2012 and sisters Elizabeth “Betty” Lenora Bates on March 4, 2005, Joyce “Jody” Paxton on December 9, 1983 and Geneva “Gene” Sutton on June 30, 1991.

Viewing will be held from 7:00pm to 9:00pm on Thursday, October 30, 2014 at Bateman Carroll Funeral Home, 520 W. Powell Blvd in Gresham, Oregon. Funeral Services will be held at 11:00am on Friday, October 31, 2014 at Savage Memorial Presbyterian Church, 1740 SE 139th Avenue, Portland OR 97233 with a reception to follow and a procession to Willamette National Cemetery for concluding services and interment. Contributions may be made to Housecall Providers Hospice, 5100 SW Macadam Ave, Suite 200, Portland OR 97239 or www.housecallproviders.org or to Dogs for the Deaf, 10175 Wheeler Road, Central Point OR 97502 or at www.dogsforthedeaf.org. Arrangements entrusted to Bateman Carroll Funeral Home in Gresham, Oregon.