Ruth Clark Garverick

Devoted Wife, Mother, Servant of Christ

Ruth Clark Garverick (nee Ruth Elizabeth Clark) passed away suddenly on October 27, 2026 with her family and friends by her side. Ruth is a native of Arlington, VA. Graduating from Washington–Lee High School in 1956, she was accepted to the College of William and Mary and was one of the first females to earn a B.S. in Mathematics degree. She married her high school sweetheart, Charles Michael (Mickey) Garverick on June 6, 1959, days after he graduated from the Naval Academy and was commissioned into the Navy. They celebrated their 67th anniversary earlier this year and were honored by Marriage Encounter International as the longest married couple in Virginia last November. The Garverick’s have three children, Richard, Karen, married to CDR (ret.) Thomas Bosy, MSC, USN, and Paul, five much loved grandchildren, and three adored great grandchildren. Ruth is survived by younger brothers David and Dale Clark.

Ruth was preceded in death by Mickey by three weeks. After a lifetime of devotion, care, and support, the separation of death was too much for her to bear and they are reunited in heaven with our living God and Savior. Ruth was also preceded in death by her parents, Ralph and Dorothy (Webster) Clark, along with older brothers Roy and Richard, and younger sister Patty Clark.

Ruth devoted her life to support Mickey and their family, moving cross country several times with temporary quarters and a travel trailer for one crossing. In total, Ruth managed 26 moves in Mickey’s 24 years of Navy service and was effectively a single parent for 8 years of that time as he was on patrol. Once settled in Fairfax in 1979, Mickey’s last duty station, and to their home of 40 years, she proudly watched all of her children graduate from W.T. Woodson High School, a unique accomplishment given so many moves. Their final move was in 2019 to the Greenspring retirement community. She was a prolific letter writer and never missed sending a card or update to anyone who crossed her mind. Ruth took great pride in supporting her children and grandchildren across multiple colleges and sports programs, she was a fan of whatever they were doing.

Throughout her life, she was devoted to causes of God’s kingdom, children, and the downtrodden. She was a volunteer with the Navy Relief Society from 1961-1979, receiving a Meritorious charm in Sept. 1979, followed by her 3,000 hour charm in Oct. 1979. She interviewed numerous service members to determine if they qualified for aid, volunteered in the Thrift Shop and did sewing for the organization. Ruth led a Good News Club for many years through Child Evangelism Fellowship and ultimately volunteered for the organization until her passing, working to count and deposit donation checks for the local chapter. Ruth supported Mickey’s passions as well, helping stage many Naval Submarine League symposiums, selling CDs for the National Christian Choir, and partnering to counsel families and individuals through Crown Financial Ministries.

Ruth did work outside the home as required, serving as a nanny for a family with three children when the family arrived in Virginia. For personal enjoyment, Ruth often volunteered to watch children so mothers could shop or have some personal time. She lived to support missions and outreach through any means necessary, ensuring that hundreds of support checks were sent every year. Her latest grand cause was chartering a ministry to support the grandmothers of Malawi who have to parent their grandchildren who have been orphaned from AIDS. GoGo Grandmothers has an annual fundraiser to support a village in addition to their ongoing prayer efforts.

Ruth will share a celebration of life service with Mickey on Friday, November, 6 at 10:00 AM at Burke Community Church. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the BCC Benevolence fund that fills the need for church members and others throughout the community.

Ruth will be buried with her beloved Mickey at Arlington National Cemetery at a later date.