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Helen Ruth Bullis
07/18/1917 — 06/26/2009
From Kennewick, WA, US | Born in Lincoln, AR
Helen Ruth Bullis
Ruth Bullis Ruth Bullis was born July 18, 1914 in Lincoln Arkansas to Dollie and James Muse Smith. Ruth was the youngest of three children. The family owned hardware stores and lived in the south until the Depression when they moved to Yakima WA. Ruth graduated from Yakima High School.
During World War II Ruth worked as a painter on military planes at Paine Field in Everett WA. Shortly after moving to Everett she married Joseph Estes Bailey from Yakima and they moved to Portland Oregon. Joe and Ruth had one daughter, Judy. Unfortunately Joe was killed just 6 months after the birth of his daughter by a drunk hit and run driver. After his death Ruth moved back to Yakima with her daughter and used newly acquired secretarial skills to become the breadwinner for her daughter and her mother.
Ruth remarried in 1954 to Clyde Bullis gaining loving step-daughter, Carol. They relocated to Richland. Ruth worked in employment at the Hanford site beginning with General Electric and retiring with Battelle in 1976. After retirement Ruth and Clyde along with her sister, Louise and husband Al made yearly "snowbird" trips to Mesa and Yuma AZ. Ruth enjoyed camping and fishing with the family. She loved boating and learned to water ski at the young age of 50.
Ruth had many wonderful attributes. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother and aunt. But the attribute that shined the strongest was her sweet, kind, disposition that always greeted you with a warm smile that left you feeling good about yourself and life.
Ruth is survived by daughter Judy Watts of West Richland; daughter, Carol Vernam of Olympia; her grand- and great-grandchildren of Olympia, and granddaughter Tia and great-grandson Spencer of San Francisco; her two loving, supportive nieces, Jackie Stover Harrah and Georgia Boon Wenatchee and families; and Ruth's ladies support group of friends for 50 years. The family would like to thank the nurses, caregivers, and staff of Canyon Lakes Restorative and Rehabilitation Center for the loving tender mercies given Ruth during the last years of her life.
In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to the Edith Bishel Center for the Blind www.edithbishelcenter.org 628 Arthur Street, Kennewick WA99336.
A memorial service to celebrate Ruth's life will be held at Southside United Protestant Church, 517 Jadwin Avenue, Richland WA.99352 on Sat. July 18, 2009 at 2:00 pm. There will be an open reception following at the church.
Ruth was friend of my mother Jo Gardiner, when they lived at the mobil home park,Allyson Manor. When
I lived in California I would come visit my mother. Ruth would always
make me a lemon meringue pie during
my visits. Ruth was a very sweet
women.
Jack Gardiner..Richland
I loved Ruth very much. We both resided at Canyon Lakes Restorative and Rehabilitation Center. She was a good friend I looked forward to spending time with. She will be missed and remembered in my thoughts and prayers, along with my families prayers. I would also like to thank his daughter for the belongings of Ruth’s she brought by, it means alot to me.
In the few years that I have known Ruth, it was apparent to me that she had a strong moral and philisophical view of life. She lived that view to the fullest. She enjoyed life and her friends. She was a loyal friend to those she came to know. We will all miss her from our life but know that she is a happier place now.
David
Guestbook for
Helen Ruth Bullis