[Obituary] The Union Democrat, Sonora CA - 12 Aug 2014
Ruth M. Swanson Aug. 24, 1924 – Aug. 6, 2014
Ruth Marjorie Swanson, 89, of Sonora, passed away on Aug. 6. Ruth was first born in San Jose to Joseph J. Kilpatrick and Cora May Kilpatrick (nee Caswell) and big sister to Elizabeth Dorr.
Ruth was raised in Palo Alto and attended Addison Elementary School, Channing and Jordan Junior High Schools and Palo Alto Union High School, where her father was a teacher.
Shortly after Pearl Harbor, her father died, and Ruth then carried a greater role as big sister and mother’s helper. The United States Cadet Nurse Corps was sponsoring young women to prepare themselves in the profession, and Ruth was admitted to an accelerated program at Stanford University School of Nursing, where she completed instruction and training at Lane Hospital in San Francisco in 30 months, earning a bachelor of arts degree in Nursing along with her 1947 class of 32 professional nurses.
She wore her white uniform and starched cap through all her years of nursing at Stanford Hospital, Palo Alto, and Washington Township Hospital, Fremont.
On Dec. 31, 1948, she married Carl Swanson, an aircraft maintenance mechanic, and they raised two daughters, Kristina and Karen.
Ruth and Carl enjoyed traveling with Pan American and United AIrlines and visits with his cousins in Sweden.
They retired in the 1980s to a ranchette off Tuolumne Road in Sonora. There, Ruth fulfilled her long desire to be a horsewoman. She was active in the Twain Harte Horsemen’s Association and was a lifetime member.
Ruth was baptized and confirmed in the Presbyterian Church. In Sonora, she was a member of Sierra Bible Church and then St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church.
Ruth is survived by her husband of 65 years, Carl Swanson; two daughters, Kris Peluso and her husband, Joe Peluso, and Karen Swanson; two grandchildren, Allison Peluso and Brian Peluso; six nieces and nephews; five cousins and numerous other friends and relatives.
Service will be held on Wednesday, Aug. 13, at 1 p.m. with open visitation preceding the service and a reception following the service. All will be held at St. Matthews Lutheran Church, 13880 Joshua Way, Sonora, CA 95370.