WARD, Ruth Marion (née Wilson)
February 7, 1919 – May 6, 2007
Ruth Marion Ward left this world early Sunday morning. Throughout her life she had a strong faith in Jesus Christ, and she looked forward to meeting her Saviour with serene anticipation. She was predeceased by her husband, Donald on May 18th, 2006. She is survived by her daughter Peggy (Bill), her son Jack (Smita), her grandchildren Andrea (Wayne), Roz (Magnus), Jennifer (Isaac), and Kim, and her great-grandchildren Xavier, Ava, Ranulf, and Alyssa.
She was born in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. Her father was a Plymouth Brethren preacher, and she had a happy childhood. She grew up in Saskatoon during the Depression, but despite the difficult times, she didn’t remember being in want of anything. Whenever there was something that her family needed, her mother would pray, and without fail the necessary means would arrive in the mail.
As a young woman, she worked as a buyer for the milliner’s department at the Bay in Edmonton. It was at the Bay that she met her future husband Don, an RAF pilot stationed there during the war. After a brief courtship he asked Ruth to marry him, but she would not accept his proposal until he came to a real belief in Jesus Christ. They were married in Charlottetown in 1943, and their first child Peggy was born there a year later.
Her young family moved to England when Peg was still a baby, and Ruth would describe herself as a war bride in reverse, having married an English officer and moved back to England with him instead of the other way around. Her second child, Jack, was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland as she followed Don’s career.
Ruth continued to support her husband in his career with Scotland Yard in Scotland and Northern Ireland, the RCAF in Canada and France, and ultimately as a Judge of the B.C. Provincial Court in Prince Rupert and on Vancouver Island. They moved to Qualicum Beach in 1976 where they stayed after Don’s retirement in 1982.
In Qualicum, Ruth made many dear friends. She was an enthusiastic parishioner of St. Mark’s Anglican Church. She started the Sunday school there, and enjoyed singing in their church choir. She loved young children, and she spent a lot of time with her granddaughters and more recently her great-grandchildren who were very special to her. We miss her very much although we know that she is with the Lord and has found the peace that surpasses all understanding.
Her family would like to thank the staff at Arranglen / the Gardens for their loving care of Ruth during her final months.
There will be a memorial service at St. Mark’s Anglican Church, 138 Memorial Avenue, Qualicum Beach on Saturday, May 12th, 2007 at 1:00pm.