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Ray was born and raised in Hood River, Ore., but his career in Public Works took him to Eugene, then on to Gresham where he retired as director of public works in 1992. Ray and his wife, Phyllis, moved to Yuma as permanent residents in 2005.

After graduating from Hood River High School in 1948, Ray joined the U.S. Air Force. He served during the Korean Conflict out of Travis Air Force Base in California. Ray returned to Hood River, where he was active for 17 years in the West Side Fire Department before moving his family to Eugene.

Fishing, camping and the outdoor life was what Ray enjoyed in his free time. Ray was a ham radio operator most of his adult life, a hobby earning him countless ham friends. Upon retiring, he took up playing the violin. He played in “jams” held around Yuma where musicians informally meet and play old, familiar tunes.

Ray was loved by his wife of almost 60 years, Phyllis, who will continue to reside in Yuma; his daughters and their families: Candy, Marty and daughter Natalie of Long Beach, Calif.; Lisa and son Travis of Portland; and Stacie and children Ian and Olivia of Dallas, Texas; and sisters Velma Smith, of Portland, and Billie Morris, of The Dalles.

Ray’s best friend of 30 years and “bro,” Glen Wright, and his wife Elaine, of Springfield, Ore., share in our grief and loss. All will miss Ray, his wit, and his stories.

Services are scheduled at Willamette National Cemetery in Portland Friday, July 3, at 11 a.m., with all invited to a buffet lunch afterward at the home of his sister, Velma.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests remembrances to hospice or a charity of your choice.

Ruth Aubert

Ruth Emma Coleman Aubert, 93, passed away in her sleep Tuesday evening, May 19, 2009. She was born July 19, 1915, in Woodburn, Ore.

As she moved into her elder years, her life was complicated by Parkinson’s disease. The last few years she was in the loving care of Anita Allen’s foster home in Mt. Hood, which enabled her to stay close to her family, and the land and community that she loved.

After her childhood in Woodburn and graduation from Hubbard High School, Ruth Coleman came to Parkdale to stay with her sister, Margaret Coleman Sigler, who had just moved to the Upper Valley with her husband, Jack Sigler. While attending an indoor baseball game in Parkdale, Ruth met Mt. Hood native George Aubert, who had returned to the area after attending college and was working for the Forest Service.

Ruth and George were married in 1935 and continued working for the Forest Service. Their first child, LaVelle, was born in 1937, and the family spent summers manning the fire watch tower on Lookout Mountain.

The young family lived in Hermiston and The Dalles during the early part of World War II, and in 1943, they returned to Mt. Hood, buying part of the original Zibe Dimmick homestead along Highway 35.

Ruth found that as well as having a sister and family in the upper valley, she had married into a large extended family, and enthusiastically joined in the busy lives of George’s parents, Paul and Marie; brothers, Paul and Leslie; and his sister, Helene Halliday, all living in the Mt. Hood/ Parkdale area.

Ruth and “Chow” had two more children, Marie and Leonard. The family began planting the orchard which would grow to become George Aubert Orchards, still operated by son Leonard, on Highway 35 in Mt. Hood. Ruth worked alongside Chow to plant fruit trees, grow potatoes while the trees were growing, and also operate the Chevron Service Station in Parkdale during the early ‘50s.

No one could knead bread like Ruth, she was a wonder to watch; and along with her bread making she was skilled in almost all areas of homemaking: cooking, sewing and food preservation. She loved flowers and berry picking, and working in her gardens.

She became involved in all activities of her children’s lives, helping with leadership in Scouts, 4-H, Campfire Girls, music and school volunteer opportunities.

For many years Ruth was involved in the Home Extension Program in the Hood River Valley, working to build active groups in the Upper Valley. She was an expert seamstress and quilter, and enjoyed working with fellow quilters. It has been said that she taught half the kids in Mt. Hood and Parkdale how to knit over her many years as a 4-H leader.

The Parkdale Garden Club was very important to her and she gave many volunteer hours to club activities, especially the “weeding” at the Memorial Garden. She was known to stop joggers going by when she was working in the garden and suggesting that they could get lots of exercise if they would come and help her work in the garden and then it would be beautiful for everyone.

She loved traveling in her later life, and she and Chow were part of one of the first delegations to represent the Valley in Hood River’s Sister City in Japan. They traveled with family and friends, mostly to other agricultural areas in the world.

There are many good family memories built around several family road trips to Nebraska to visit “Grandma’s” relatives. Her favorite place was Mt. Hood, right at the bottom of Bald Butte, but she also loved the beach and spent many weekends with friends and relatives at her “Chinook” Beach Camp. She loved clamming; the cleaning and cooking as much as the digging.

Ruth was very best at being Mom and Grandma. Her family was always most important and she and Chow spent their older years either hosting or accompanying groups of children and grandchildren, and their friends, at every possibility.

It is in this capacity that she will be missed the most. She could whip up a huge dinner out of practically nothing to serve a hungry group of kids and friends. She could always find another blanket and pillow for one more guest, and she wouldn’t miss a play, concert, ball game, graduation, or birthday. If her grandchildren were involved, Grandma and Grandpa were there.

Ruth is survived by her children: Leonard and Karen Aubert, of Mt. Hood, Marie Pickering, of Parkdale, and LaVelle and Frank Pellegrino of Modesto, Calif.; grandchildren Paul and Lindsey Aubert, of Mt. Hood, Jolene Aubert, of Spokane, Wash., Brad and Stephanie Pickering, of Parkdale, Greg and Nicole Pickering, of Tualatin, Kurt Pellegrino of Modesto, Calif., and Kraig Pellegrino, of Reno, Nev

Also surviving are great-grandchildren Jess Aubert, of Mt. Hood, Wade and Anna Pickering, of Parkdale, Taylor and Liam Pickering, of Tualatin, Tim and Marissa Pellegrino of Reno, Nev., Alexandria Pellegrino, of Los Angeles, Calif., and Sean and Scott Pellegrino, of Modesto, Calif.

Ruth is also survived by two sisters, Mildred Bloom and Arlene Hammond, of Woodburn, Ore.; and her sister-in-law, Alene Aubert, of Vancouver, and their families. Also surviving in the Gorge area are nieces and nephews: the Halliday and Fraunfelder families, and Paul Blumenstein and his family. Many families will miss Aunt Ruth.

Ruth was preceded in death by her husband of 66 years, George “Chow” Aubert, in 2001, and son-in-law, Bruce Pickering, in 1996.

A memorial service is planned for early August.

Contributions in Ruth’s memory may be made to the Parkdale Garden Club for maintenance of the Parkdale Memorial Garden and sent care of Anderson’s.

Arrangements are under the direction of Anderson’s Tribute Center (Funerals, Receptions, Cremations), 1401 Belmont Ave., Hood River, OR 97031; 541-386-1000. Please visit www.andersonstributecenter.com to sign the family guest book.

Eileen Bostwick

Virginia Eileen (Evans) Bostwick died with her loving family close by, on May 22, 2009, after a courageous battle with cancer. She fought cancer the way she lived her life, with all of her strength and determination. Eileen was sustained throughout her life by her deep faith in God.

Eileen was born March 8, 1926, in Tillamook, Ore., to Rev. B. Ross and Ruth Evans. She began her schooling there and in 1934 the family moved to Corbett, Ore., where she attended Corbett Grade School. She later spent a year in Eugene, Ore., until the family moved to Hood River in 1936. Eileen graduated from Hood River High School in 1944.

After graduation she was employed at the United Telephone Company of Hood River. Eileen was married to George E. Bostwick Sept. 9, 1946. George had been Eileen’s high school sweetheart and recently returned from serving in the Navy during World War II. Eileen and George had two children: Tom Bostwick, of Hood River, and Annette Owen, of Independence, Mo.

After Tom was born Eileen and George moved to Sweet Home, Ore., for several years where George was employed in the lumber business. They returned to Hood River and bought a home on Belmont Drive.

After building a new home on the same Belmont property they adopted a sister for Tom. Annette Bostwick Owen. George was employed with the United Postal Service until he retired.

Eileen and George were longtime members of the Valley Christian Church where they were very active in the church. Later they joined the Odell Baptist Church and Eileen became the church organist and they were very active members.

They later transferred to the Tucker Road Baptist Church where Eileen became the organist there. They were both very active in the church until George’s death in 2004. Eileen continued playing the church organ until her health kept her from participating.

When George retired from the Postal Service they bought a home on Eliot Drive.

They both loved to travel and they took many wonderful trips throughout the United States, Canada, and Mexico. They enjoyed several trips to Hawaii.

Eileen’s greatest loves were her music, sewing, her flower garden and being a devoted wife and mother. She had many accomplishments in her lifetime and had many friends. She was a volunteer at the Hood River Historical Museum, a member of the Hood River Historical Society and a member of the Tucker Road Baptist Church.

In addition to her parents, Eileen was preceded in death by her brother B. Ross (Pat) Evans, killed in World War II on Guam.

Eileen is survived and will be dearly missed by her son, Tom Bostwick, and daughter, Annette Owen; brother, Rev. Fred Evans, of Corvallis; sisters Ruth Wickensham, of Jacksonville, Fla., and Dorothy Radliff, of Hood River; grandchildren Marsha Schneider, Mary Bostwick, Josh Owen and Becca Deeds; and other distant family members.

Funeral services will be held at the Hood River Valley Christian Church, 975 Indian Creek Road, at 1 p.m. Friday, May 29. A reception will follow the service, then interment at Idlewilde Cemetery.