Ruth Elaine Gibbs, age 80, went home to be with Jesus on December 29, 2023.
Ruth was born to Reverend Douglas and Ruth Ruthford on December 28, 1943 in Everett, Washington. As a child, she excelled in school and learned to play the accordion, autoharp, piano and organ. She also enjoyed singing, playing softball, and spending time in fields of wildflowers near her childhood homes. She was an Honor Roll student and graduated from East Anchorage High School in 1961.
Ruth met her husband, Jerry Gibbs at church when they were both 13 years old. They later began dating and were married on December 24, 1961. The following November, they had their only child, a daughter, Jenene.
Ruth returned to school and graduated from Bellevue College in Bellevue, Washington in 1993 with an AA degree. Her focus of study was in music. As a member of Phi Theta Kappa, she won 1st Place for their National Musical Composition Award. Her musical career included teaching piano and voice lessons, composing and directing musical plays, choirs, and numerous piano and voice pieces.
In addition to being a dedicated and loving wife and mother, Ruth also loved growing flowers and tomatoes, hiking, traveling, staying actively involved in her grandchildren’s lives, and holding various volunteer roles within the church and the Republican Party.
She held two elected positions within the Republican Party as the Washington State 11th District Republican Party Chair from 2000 – 2010 and as the Klamath Falls County Chair from 2016-2018. Additionally, she was a three time Washington State Delegate to the National Republican Conventions in 1988, 2004 and 2008. Some of her other roles included King County Chair for Linda Smith (U.S. Senate), Campaign Manager for Linda Thompson (District Court Judge), and Campaign Manager for Mike Sweeny (Washington State House of Representatives).
Ruth was an active Toastmasters member and held the District #2 Division Governor position. Additionally she achieved Toastmasters Best Speaker and Distinguished Toastmaster awards.
As a Pastor’s daughter, she learned about Jesus and accepted Him as her Savior at the tender age of 5. Throughout her entire life, she held an unwavering faith in God, which she shared with those who surrounded her.
Ruth joins her parents and grandparents in Heaven. She is survived by her husband, Jerry, her sister, Cheri (Robinson), her brother, Leonard, daughter, Jenene (Mathews), her grandchildren, Andy, Joel, Jeremy and Jessica, and her great grandchildren, Jonah, Claire, Lilian, Scarlett, Xavier and Anna.