Ruth Townsend
Ruth Townsend
(Aug. 2, 1941-May 17, 2010)
Ruth Townsend, 68, died at her home on Monday, May 17, 2010. A Traditional Funeral Service was held on Monday, May 24, 2010 at 11 a.m. at the Christian Church on Highway 7 in Baker City. Friends were invited to join the family for a reception immediately following the service, at the church. A Graveside service and interment was held at 2 p.m. at the Cove Cemetery. Officiating the service was Pastor Roger Scovil.
Ruth was born in St. Louis, Mo., Aug. 2, 1941, to John and Lucille Harmon. The family moved from St. Louis to Tacoma, Wash., Doris, Wash. and then to Hermiston, Ore., where she graduated from Hermiston High School. She was the oldest of 8 children.
She married Malcolm Townsend July 28, 1957, and had three children Malcolm (Sonny), Mike and Mark Townsend. They lived in Hermiston, Ore., for a short time then moved to Cove, Ore., where they lived in the area for 30 years. Ruth and Malcolm relocated back to Eastern Oregon in Baker City after Ruth accepted a job with Baker B.E.G.I.N. (Baker Enterprise Growth Initiative). They loved the community and planned to spend their retirement years in Baker City. Ruth attended La Grande College of business and received an associate's degree in business. She worked a variety of jobs, the most rewarding involved her development of the Sun Rose family brand of fruit and her work with the Baker B.E.G.I.N. program, mentoring businesses. She was presented in LaGrande with the Woman of the Year in 1984 by the American Business Women's Association.
Ruth developed many close personal friends through her contacts with the Baker Begin program and Baker Christian church. She loved her immediate and church families dearly. She sincerely appreciated the prayers and support from all her family and friends. She was overwhelmed by the care and concern extended to her during her difficult battle with cancer. Ruth enjoyed tending to her flower garden and kept her business interests alive with her well respected EBAY store. She loved the companionship of her two puppies Duchess and Sheena. She was sincerely loved by her families and will be dearly missed.
Ruth was proceeded in death by her parents, a brother Rollie Harmon and sister Barbara Harmon.
She is survived by her husband Malcolm Townsend, two sisters Myra Hall and Mary Jane Sletton, 3 brothers Rex Harmon, Paul Harmon and Peter Harmon, sons Malcolm (Sonny) Townsend, Mike Townsend and Mark Townsend, grandchildren Andy Townsend, Allan Townsend, Adam Townsend, Michael Townsend, Alex Townsend, Megan Townsend and Colton Townsend and 14 great grand children.
Those who wish to make a memorial contribution in memory of Ruth, she asked that it be made to the Christian Church building fund through Tami's Pine Valley Funeral Home, P.O. Box 543, Halfway, Oregon 97834.
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