Ruth R. Stanley
Ruth R. Stanley
Ruth R. Stanley nee Dorothy Ruth Rogers died at her daughter’s home on December 16, 2024. At 97 years old Ruth succumbed to ailments of aging and COPD, but left the earth peacefully and comfortably.
Ruth was born in Oroville, California on February 19, 1927. Her parents divorced when she was an infant and Ruth was raised by her mother and her stepfather in Klamath Falls, Oregon. She was a precocious learner requiring unique tutoring in mathematics as she outpaced the primary school curriculum. She enrolled at the University of California Berkeley (Go Bears!) at 16 years of age. While she desired entrance into the engineering school, at that time in history few women were participating in engineering studies and she was denied entry. She graduated from UC Berkeley in 1948 with a major in Russia and Far East Studies and a minor in theater. Making her way to Washington State she met William Stanley, married and had 4 children. While the marriage didn’t last, Ruth’s commitment to her children and drive to be independent sent her back to school and into the workforce where she started working in electronics assembly and ultimately to a 24-year career at Rocket Research Company (1968-1992), now known as Aerojet Rocketdyne, Inc. As a Quality Data Analyst she had responsibilities in many projects that have been launched into space including Voyager, Magellan, Viking and multiple Space Shuttles.
After retirement Ruth traveled extensively with trips to China, Italy, Egypt, Israel, Australia, New Zealand, Kenya, Nairobi, Thailand, Cambodia and DisneyWorld! Throughout the years Ruth maintained an avid interest in the arts with season tickets to multiple seasons of the Seattle Opera and Seattle Symphony. She also ushered at the Village Theater in Issaquah for many seasons. Her oldest daughter Michele was born with developmental disabilities and thus Ruth advocated for students with special needs and was a lifelong supporter of The Special Olympics. Ruth was a quiet, determined and fiercely independent woman. She embraced stray animals and stray children with a generous spirit, making them all family.
Ruth is survived by her daughter Gretchen McLaurin, son-in-law Clif McLaurin, grandsons Colin McLaurin, Frank Stanley, and Jeff Stanley and his wife Adrienne, and her great grandchildren Erik Benjamin, Celeste Juliet and Celine Allena. She is predeceased by her first grandson Justin McLaurin, her son Erik Stanley and her daughters Michele and Lisa Stanley.
In lieu of flowers the family requests donations to:
Special Olympics of Washington: https://impact.sowa.org/give/265704/#!/donation/checkout
The Seattle Opera: https://secure.seattleopera.org/donate/contribute1
Seattle Humane Society: https://www.seattlehumane.org/?form=donate
On a personal note, I recommend asking all of the questions now, even the hard ones. While I don’t remember a lot of sentimentality in my youth, in the last five months of my mother’s life we told each other “I love you” and “thank you” every night. It was our blessing that she spent her last months with my husband and I and now that she is gone I have a lot of questions, but no one left to answer them.
7 Responses to “Ruth R. Stanley”
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Gretchen, I’m so sorry to hear of the passing of your mother. I knownyou cherished your time with her. Condolences to you and your family and keeping all of you in my prayers.
She was it. The only g-ma I ever really had growing up. My brother and I lived with her through middle and high school. She definitely knew who my friends were. Her backyard was our sanctuary. The front door was always unlocked, like literally, I worried sometimes about it. Ironically, even when I wasn’t living there, I carried a key to her front door . I’m glad my kids got the time they did with their great grandma. Time is the most precious commodity, we can’t pause it or get any of it back, but we can reflect and look back on times past. 97 years is a lot to look back on. Grandma was amazing. I love you grandma.
What a privilege it was to know Ruth, and for my daughter to know her. Her legacy is a life well lived ❤️
I was lucky to be one of the “strays” Ruth took in when I needed it. An amazing woman that didn’t judge any for their missteps. She had a challenging life but always was present and cheerful.
Loved and cared for her family. Was a great role model for all. I love her for the Mom she was to me. Her resilience was amazing, still completing her crossword puzzles to the end. Bless you Gretchen and Clif for the care you provided. Love you forever!
I met Ruth when I was a young woman working at Rocket Research in the late 1970s. She was the epitome of “do you want to speak to the man in charge or the woman who really knows what’s going on?”. The bad Berkeley bears didn’t let her into their den, but she had her own den at the rocket factory and she guarded it well. Rest in Peace and Power Ms. Stanley, you paved the way for real woman engineers and pretend ones like me (my degree is in chemistry) and mothers and grandmothers like us.
Even before I officially married into the Stanley family, Grandma Ruth treated me like family from day one. Going to visit her and listening to stories, being gifted crocheted gifts, laughing and joking with her are memories that will never be forgotten. She was the epitome of unconditional love, resiliency and strength. I was lucky to have learned so much about and from her for more than a decade.
The fondest memory I have of her was when we told her she was going to be a Great Grandma – the jaw dropped, shocked look on her face coupled with the little/quiet yell of excitement will forever be etched in my brain. We were able to give her two more grandkids after the first and every time – she had the same loving reaction. Our kids are so blessed to have had the opportunity to spend time with an amazing woman they called Great Grandma.
Thank you Grandma for everything but most especially for helping me remember and showing me the unique love of a Grandparent. You will forever be loved and missed but never forgotten. Rest in Paradise.
Ruth was a special person. I think back of many of our deep conversations over the years. I’m thankful to have know her and heart broken to hear of her passing. Her family is in my thoughts and prayers, Liz