Ruth Lorraine Irving, age 88 (pictured at right from the 1939 Spy, slipped away quietly and peacefully in her sleep on Monday, May 31, 2010, in Phoenix, AZ, to be reunited with her beloved husband, Bill, who preceded her in death on December 20, 2005. She was also preceded in death by two sons, James and Robert Irving.
Ruth Dowse was born in Kenosha, WI on April 29, 1922, the daughter of Milton Lovejoy Dowse and Lorraine Appollonia (Thomas) Dowse. She grew up and attended Kenosha schools and graduated from Kenosha High School, Class of '39. She and William Harold Irving were married on August 16, 1941. Together they had eight children.
Ruth is survived by the following children and/or spouses: Donna (Holmgren) Irving, surviving spouse of James - Phoenix, AZ; Mary Jurgaitis (Mark) - Neillsville, WI; Noel (Smith) Irving, surviving spouse of Robert - Kenosha, WI; Thomas (Yolanda) - Phoenix, AZ; Kathryn Olsen (Larry) - Sherwood AR; Richard (Pam Gascoigne) - Kennesaw, GA; William (Connie Feuerstein) - Streamwood, IL; and Lorraine “Lori” Irving - Phoenix, AZ. Ruth had 24 grandchildren, two of whom preceded her in death, 30 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild. She was also preceded in death by her two half brothers, Milton and Robert Dowse, and is survived by her sister, Grace Thomas.
During her years in Kenosha, Ruth and her husband were both avid bowlers and Cubs fans. They were very active in the Elk's Lodge and Lion's Club. Ruth was a member of the women's auxiliaries and served in a leadership capacity for both of these organizations. Upon moving to Santa Monica, CA in 1985, they remained active in the Elk's thru local Lodge #906. Also, while in Santa Monica, they became members of the Screen Actors Guild and performed as extras in many TV commercials, TV programs and movies. Between their jobs as extras, there were frequent trips made to their favorite casinos - from Las Vegas to Laughlin, and other places near and far. Ruth left her Santa Monica home of nearly 25 years in October 2009 to live with her daughter, Kathryn, in Sherwood, Arkansas. She was visiting her daughter, Lori, and son, Thomas, in Phoenix, AZ and was at the home of her son, Thomas, when she passed away.
A visitation will be held in Phoenix, on Friday, June 11, from 5:00PM to 8:00PM at Hansen's Desert Hills Chapel (6500 E. Bell Rd., Scottsdale) after which she will be cremated. There will be a short memorial service on Friday, June 25 at 10:00AM at Woodlawn Cemetery (1847 14th St., Santa Monica, CA), where Ruth's ashes will be laid to rest next to those of her husband in the cemetery's section dedicated to the Elk's.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Santa Monica Elk's Lodge #906. Please visit www.hansenmortuary.com to send online condolences.
Published by Los Angeles Times on June 9, 2010.