BYRNE, Ruth Margaret

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• Obituary: From Eureka Times-Standard Ruth Margaret Byrne Anderson Ruth Margaret Byrne Anderson passed away in Arcata on December 31, 2008. She was 88. Ruth began and ended her life near the ocean she loved and was happiest at home. She was born November 8, 1920, to Agnes and Walter Byrne in their Santa Cruz Craftsman style bungalow, which was designed by her architect father, and has been designated an historical landmark. The fourth of nine children, Ruth was raised in the Los Angeles area, graduated from St. Andrew’s High School in Pasadena and attended Pasadena City College. At the onset of World War Two Ruth’s family moved to Oakland, where she worked as a secretary for Kaiser Steel. At the end of the war she met Martin Anderson, a naval officer just back from the Pacific and stationed at Alameda. The couple married in 1947 and Martin returned to school at UC Berkeley on the GI Bill. Eventually Ruth left the workplace for motherhood and by 1965 the couple had six children. The family lived in both Southern and Northern California, settling in the Bay Area city of Livermore in 1969. Martin worked as an inspector for the California Department of Agriculture until his death in 1978 at age 61. Ruth relocated to the North Coast in 1984, after visiting her son William, a student at Humboldt State University. The redwoods reminded her of Santa Cruz. She was active in St. Mary’s parish where she sang in the choir, volunteered at Pacific Union School, and enjoyed cooking, gardening, bird-watching, Bible-study, and reading. Ruth was preceded in death by her husband Martin; her brother Walter Byrne; sisters Marian Byrne and Josephine Byrne; brothers-in-law Glen Philpot, Earle Maixner and Delbert Lebbert; and grandson Charles Christopher Wood. She is survived by her sisters: Harriet Philpot, Roberta Maixner, Elizabeth Lebbert & Patricia Byrne; her brother Thomas (Elizabeth) Byrne; her children: Edward (Marlene) Anderson, Joan (Samuel) Naszady, William (Sandra) Anderson, John Anderson, Mary (Charles) Wood and Robert (Sara) Anderson; her grandchildren: Katherine, Emily & Ethan Naszady; Michelle (Gregg) Pacilio & Benjamin Anderson; Erin & Catherine Wood; Martin, Alexander & Joseph Anderson; and her great grandson Jai Michael Pacilio. A Memorial Service will be held for Ruth at St Mary’s Church in Arcata Saturday January 10th at 1 pm, with interment at St. Michael’s Catholic Cemetary in Livermore, California. The family wishes to thank Linda Newhouse, Dr. David S. Gans, the staff of Mad River Community Hospital and Home Health, Assisted Living Services of Eureka, and St. Mary’s parish for their support of Ruth over the years. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to St. Mary’s Church. Please sign the guestbook at www.times-standard.com, click on obituaries. Published in Eureka Times-Standard on Jan. 8, 2009
• Residence: 1930, Pasadena, Los Angeles, California
• Residence: 2004, Arcata, California, USA

Family/Spouse: ANDERSON, Martin William. Martin was born on 8 Sep 1916 in Manchester, CT, USA; died on 12 Jan 1978 in Livermore, Alameda, CA, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: WOOD, Charles. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Marlene. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: NASZARDY, Samuel. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Sara. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Sandra. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]