Ruth H. Kilbourn

Ruth H. Kilbourn, age 94, of Grants Pass, died Tuesday, October 18, 2011 at Oak Lane.

A celebration of life will be at 10:00 a.m., Tuesday, October 25, 2011 at Oak Lane Retirement Home with Pastor Ken Armstrong officiating. Private interment will be at Hawthorne Memorial Gardens. Hull & Hull Funeral Directors are in charge of arrangements.

Remembrances may be made to Lovejoy Hospice at LovejoyHospice.org or 939 SE 8th Street, Grants Pass, Oregon 97526.

Ruth was born August 4, 1917 in Yakima, Washington to Joseph & Jessie Kilbourn. Ruth entered the United States Army (WACS) in 1942 and served until her honorable discharge as a First Lieutenant in 1946. At that time she moved to Grants Pass, Oregon. In 1950 she graduated from the University of Oregon with a Bachelor of Science degree. She worked in the social services field first for Jackson County Welfare, the Red Cross from 1953-1955, Jackson County Welfare again from 1955-1956. From 1956 to 1964 she was the executive director for the Girl Scout Council serving in Medford, Salem, Alaska and Idaho. Ruth then joined the Peace Corps and served in Peru until illness sent her home. She worked at RSVP in Grants Pass until her retirement in 1975.

Her many memberships included American Legion; Wildlife Safari; University of Oregon Alumni; and community theatres including Pasadena Playhouse in Pasadena, California, Footlighters in Medford, Falls Community Players in Idaho Falls, Idaho; and Barnstormers in Grants Pass. In theatres she was best known for her monologues. She also enjoyed volunteering with the Josephine County Library.

Ruth’s hobbies included photography, hiking, reading, bingo, crossword puzzles, rock hounding, and genealogy. She enjoyed many elder hostel trips, including one to England and Scotland.

Survivors include three nieces, Judy Oachs and Ruth Gustafson both of Grants Pass, Oregon and Peggy Wallace of Merrill, Oregon; two nephews, Bill Ashway of Mission Viejo, California and David Miller.

She was preceded in death by her parents and a sister, Margaret Miller.