Freda Ruth Gross, AKA, Mom, died Nov. 7, 2009. She was born in Clarion, Penn., in 1924, as Freda Ruth Reynolds. Later, as Ruth Mills, she moved to Oak Harbor in 1959 with husband Glade, sons Tim and Terry and daughter Deborah, and worked aboard base with Civil Services. She retired in the mid-80s as a GS11 Admin. Officer. As she said, “I spent 30 years at the same desk and the same chair. It was great.”

Ruth had a love for music. She enjoyed playing piano and organ for Eastern Star as well as home parties with coworkers and friends. She was an active member of the Whidbey Presbyterian Church dating back to the 1970s when Dwight Whipple was minister. Ruth loved the Lord and never questioned when things went wrong. Her first marriage of 24 years ended in divorce, the second (Ed Jones) ended in the death of her husband and the third (Chuck Gross) also ended in death. Her sister Margie and brother Bob Reynolds were also met with untimely death.

Then in 2008 she lost her son Tim Mills. She spent the last 15 years of her life with a twisted and very painful spine. In all this, she struggled to understand why, just like we all do, but always kept her faith and knew that one day it will be made clear. Well, one day has come. I wonder if she can play the harp? Ruth will be buried next to her mom in Clarion, Penn.