Ruth A. Gurgel

Ruth A. Gurgel, age 99, of Grants Pass, died Wednesday, March 25, 2009 at the home of her daughter and son-in-law in Grants Pass.

Private Services will be held at Hillcrest Memorial Park in Grants Pass. Hull & Hull Funeral Directors are in charge of arrangements.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers any remembrances or donations in her memory be made to Lovejoy Hospice, 939 SE 8th Street, Grants Pass, Oregon 97526.

She was born Ruth Adeline Gladden, in Kansas City, Kansas, on June 30, 1909, to William O. and Clara Mueller Gladden. She had 13 brothers and sisters and spent her early years in San Diego, California. That is where she met and married her husband Leslie E. Gurgel on September 2, 1927. She was married 68 years, ending with her husband’s passing in October, 1995.

She was a life-long member of the Seventh Day Adventist Church, and for many years was active in their Dorcas Society. She was also a life member of the American Legion and held offices in that organization.

She loved crocheting, cooking, baking and gardening as well as traveling and camping with her husband and children. She created Raggedy Ann and Andy Dolls which found homes all over the world. She loved the Oregon coast with all of its beauty and agate hunting on the beach and she passed this love on to her children and grandchildren. Most of all, she liked being with her children and grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

She is survived by three of her children, Jeannette Marie Eickert of El Dorado Hills, California, Bonnie C. Maffett of Grants Pass, and Leslie E. Gurgel, Jr., of Mont Lake Terrace, Washington. She was preceded in death by her oldest son, William F. Gurgel. She has a sister, Betty Thomann, of Forrest Hills, California; 10 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren and 4 great-great-grandchildren.