Ruth Hartley Enos, a 45-year resident of Davis, California, died on September 16th after many years of fighting chronic heart failure and pulmonary hypertension. She was 85 years old.
Ruth was born April 21, 1922 in Washington State on her familys farm. In addition to raising standard crops for the region, her father bred and raised fox for their pelts, which were popular in the fashion industry at the time. She graduated from the University of Puget Sound in 1943, when she met and married Ralph Francis Enos, her husband for over 50 years until his death in 1995. They had four children: Thomas Enos, Evelyn Praul, Ralph Gregory Enos, and Debi Robinette.
The center of Ruths life was church, children, and charity. She was a dedicated member of the First Baptist Church in Davis, where she became a member in the founding days and continued active as the church grew to its current prominent position in the Davis community. For many decades, she sang in the choir, played the violin in church services, taught Sunday School, and supported womens ministries. She loved old-fashioned hymn singing and asked that such singing be a primary focus in her final services. As her ailments increasingly restricted her activities, she continued to attend church as much as possible and came to support radio and television ministries as well.
Ruth cared for children. She raised four children and helped raise three grandchildren whose mother asked her for help. She had three additional grandchildren, who, whether they lived close by or far away, were always in her thoughts and prayers. In the past 12 years, she helped care for her four great-grandchildren, who even in the last few months of her life spent many hours in her home almost every day.
Ruth made her career teaching children in special-education classes for over 20 years and completed a masters degree at the University of Southern California, with emphasis on special education. During her career, she taught children with physical handicaps, developmental handicaps, and learning disabilities. One of her final requests was for the family to sponsor an ice-cream social for her churchs children.
Ruth believed in giving to charity and generously supported a wide variety of charitable organizations, including her church and dozens of other Christian organizations. She had a special interest in Pine Tree Gardens, a highly regarded local mental-health service organization, serving on its board of directors for nearly 20 years. She also supported may other charitable groups devoted to benefiting the disabled, protecting animals, and promoting conservation.
Services recognizing Ruths life will be held at the First Baptist Church, 38141 Russell Blvd. in Davis on September 30, 2007 at 4:00 P.M. Community members are invited to attend. The family welcomes donations to the First Baptist Church of Davis, Pine Tree Gardens, or other local charities focusing on serving children or disabled people.