Ruth Elizabeth Torrance

She is preceded in death by her three husbands, Edward Boyle, Edward Clark, and Mural Torrance; and parents, Fredrick and Edith Duchanois.

Ruth is survived by her children, Lois See of West Hills, CA, Earl Boyle of McAllen, TX, and Richard Nageotte of Stafford, VA; sixteen grandchildren, thirty-one great-grandchildren, and fifteen great-great-grandchildren.

Ruth was born on March 27, 1911 in Meadville, Pennsylvania. Her home had gas lamps, not electricity. She used to look out her front window and see men deliver ice in a horse drawn wagon. Ruth remembered soldiers coming back from WWI. Her favorite uncle came back from WWI, just to die of influenza within a year. When she was 13 years old her appendix burst. In the Hospital, Ruth remembered the effects of ether, and of the priest giving her the last rights. She even visited a “speakeasy” during prohibition.

She moved from Meadville, Pennsylvania in 1937 to Cleveland, Ohio to work as what she called "Rosie the Riveter" in a WWII defense plant, "my job was to buff the tops of airplane piston heads."

Ruth moved to Los Angeles, California in 1943 and worked mostly as a waitress. Later she owned her own restaurant for 6 years until she retired.

She and her husband retired and moved from Los Angeles, California in 1974. She was a resident of Ojai for thirty-seven years.

Ruth beat cancer three times in her life. She had a heart attack in 1989 and her heart stopped, but was revived by a defibrillator, and the expert staff at Ojai Valley Hospital. After that, she renewed her interest in life with great vigor.

Ruth was a member of the Ojai Valley Woman's Club, St. Thomas Aquinas Church, and Help of Ojai. She played cards and bingo, made afghans, and did crochet. She joined a paint class and loved to paint watercolors. Ruth was flattered when The Little House used one of her paintings as a logo and later on the cover of a local Telephone book. For years, she entered her watercolors in the Ventura County Fair and won many 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place ribbons. Just last year, at 99 years old she won another 1st place ribbon.

In December of 2010 she was still correctly guessing “Jeopardy” questions.

She loved to keep her hands and mind busy.

Ruth Torrance lived independently at her home in Ojai Valley Estates until she broke her hip in January 2011 and entered Los Robles Care Center in Ojai. Her mind was clear and lucid right up until she broke her hip.

She had three marriages and summed it up this way:

"The first time I married for romantic love (and consequently children), the second time I married for financial security, but the third time I married for companionship. I liked companionship the best."

Her secrets to longevity were:

Take a multivitamin every day.

Follow the exact advice of your doctor.

Keep the mind active with crossword puzzles, reading mystery books, playing card games, video poker and bingo. She remembered all her families’ birth dates.

Take time out for one daily highball (vodka, tonic, and lime) at precisely 5:00 pm.

"I just want to make it to 100" she said. She did, and we are one grateful family.

A potluck memorial luncheon will be held for her friends and family starting at 2:00 P.M. on Sunday, July 31, at the Clubhouse at the Ojai Valley Estates, 1975 Maricopa Highway, Ojai, CA, 93023. Donations may be made to the Help of Ojai and Ojai Valley Woman's Club.

Arrangements are under the direction of the Ted Mayr Funeral Home. Condolences may be left at TedMayrFuneralHome.com.