Ruth Graham-Moniot

My beautiful wife and best friend Ruth Graham-Moniot passed peacefully with her loving family at her side on January 16, 2014. Ruth is survived by husband Bill Moniot, daughter Hillary Altilio (Rick) of St. Louis, MO, son Casey Graham of Oxnard, grandson Dominic Altilio, and step children Lori Moniot-Takakjian, Mike, Brent, and Gavin Moniot. Ruth grew up in Sewickley, PA. She graduated from University of Michigan with a BA in Education in June 1967. While at U of M, Ruth married Paul Graham. Following college they moved to Boston where Ruth taught kindergarten for one year. They then moved to Los Angeles in 1969. Ruth and Paul had two children together. Ruth completed her master's degree in Special Education at California Lutheran University in 1982 and moved to Ventura where she began a 30 year special education teaching career with Ventura Unified School District. She touched the lives of hundreds of special needs students and their families and always took a personal interest in the development and well-being of not just the children but their families. She retired in 2011. In 1982, while on a Sierra Club hike at the beach, she met her second husband, architect Bill Moniot, a longtime resident of Ventura County. They married in 1984. Ruth loved to travel and over the years she and Bill covered 5 of the 7 continents, while also enjoying frequent visits to various resorts in Mexico. In 2012 they moved to Del Web Shadow Hills Retirement Community in Indio where Ruth joined the book club and became president of the travel club. Besides being a voracious reader, Ruth loved visiting casinos and playing the slot machines. Her visits to St. Louis to visit her daughter Hillary always included a jaunt to the local casinos on the Mississippi River to play the slots. One of the loves of Ruth's life was her only grandchild Dominic who is now 6 years old. She made frequent visits to spend time with him in St. Louis and never missed a birthday or first day of school. Ruth requested there be no memorial service, and we are honoring her request. Donations can be sent to American Cancer Society or Special Olympics.

Arrangements under the direction of Charles Carroll Funeral Home, Ventura, CA.