Ruth Philips Sainsbury
Courageous, beautiful, loving, and inspiring wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, and mother-in-law, Ruth died in her sleep on February 16, 2009 in her home in Los Altos Hills. Despite spending her last forty years increasingly compromised by multiple sclerosis, Ruth was the embodiment of class and caring as, to the end, she was concerned more about others than herself.
Preceded in death by her loving and dedicated husband Len in October 2008, Ruth survived multiple medical challenges without once seeking pity or special treatment and enjoying regular visits by her friends, children and grandchildren. She is survived by daughters Christine Briner (Paul), Karen King (Dick), and son Dale (Cathy), seven grandchildren Will Sweda (Kelly), Jon Sweda, Kristina Cohen (Marc), Brian King (Jamey), Bradley King, Megan Sainsbury and Ryan Sainsbury, three great-grandchildren Isabella Sweda, Lucy King and Harper King and many nephews and nieces.
Anna Ruth Philips was born on June 18, 1918 in Cato, New York, Ruth was the youngest of six children. After her mother's death when she was eight years old, Ruth was raised by her older sister Zella. She is a graduate of Central City Business Institute in Syracuse, New York.
She met her beloved Len in a youth group at University United Methodist Church at Syracuse University where her future father-in-law presided. Marrying in 1941, Ruth and Len lived in several cities on the East Coast while Len pursued his career in the photographic film industry.
Despite being a full time mother and home maker, Ruth always found time to volunteer. Her many contributions included serving as a Sunday school teacher at Lakewood Methodist Church in Ohio and as a member of United Methodist Women in all of the churches she attended. She piloted a program for senior women at Asbury Methodist Church in Rochester, New York providing weekly lunches and activities and was a regular volunteer at the public library in Pittsford, New York. In Los Altos, she created a program to provide seasonal tray favors for patients at Beverly Manor Convalescent Home.
In 1967, Len and Ruth realized a life long dream to relocate to the West Coast when Len went to work for Ampex in Redwood City. Ruth took on most of the logistics of the move which included the construction of a new home and getting the family settled. They became active members of Los Altos United Methodist Church where Ruth pursued her most active volunteer responsibilities. For over ten years she served as chair of "Angels on Call" where she coordinated food delivery, transportation and loving care for those church members in need. She accomplished this despite her deteriorating condition and inability to drive caused by her MS. The Los Altos Town Crier recognized her incredible dedication and contribution to the community by naming her Los Altos Volunteer of the Year in 1993. Ruth was also an active member of PEO, Chapter NW in Los Altos for many years.
The family requests that in lieu of flowers, gifts in Ruth's honor be made to the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Santa Clara County, 2589 Scott Blvd., Santa Clara, CA 95052.
A memorial service and reception in Ruth's honor will be held at Los Altos United Methodist Church, 655 Magdalena Ave., Los Altos, CA 94024 on Saturday, March 21, 2009 at 3 pm.
Published by San Jose Mercury News on Mar. 8, 2009.
Courageous, beautiful, loving, and inspiring wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, and mother-in-law, Ruth died in her sleep on February 16, 2009 in her home in Los Altos Hills. Despite spending her last forty years increasingly compromised by multiple sclerosis, Ruth was the embodiment of class and caring as, to the end, she was concerned more about others than herself.
Preceded in death by her loving and dedicated husband Len in October 2008, Ruth survived multiple medical challenges without once seeking pity or special treatment and enjoying regular visits by her friends, children and grandchildren. She is survived by daughters Christine Briner (Paul), Karen King (Dick), and son Dale (Cathy), seven grandchildren Will Sweda (Kelly), Jon Sweda, Kristina Cohen (Marc), Brian King (Jamey), Bradley King, Megan Sainsbury and Ryan Sainsbury, three great-grandchildren Isabella Sweda, Lucy King and Harper King and many nephews and nieces.
Anna Ruth Philips was born on June 18, 1918 in Cato, New York, Ruth was the youngest of six children. After her mother's death when she was eight years old, Ruth was raised by her older sister Zella. She is a graduate of Central City Business Institute in Syracuse, New York.
She met her beloved Len in a youth group at University United Methodist Church at Syracuse University where her future father-in-law presided. Marrying in 1941, Ruth and Len lived in several cities on the East Coast while Len pursued his career in the photographic film industry.
Despite being a full time mother and home maker, Ruth always found time to volunteer. Her many contributions included serving as a Sunday school teacher at Lakewood Methodist Church in Ohio and as a member of United Methodist Women in all of the churches she attended. She piloted a program for senior women at Asbury Methodist Church in Rochester, New York providing weekly lunches and activities and was a regular volunteer at the public library in Pittsford, New York. In Los Altos, she created a program to provide seasonal tray favors for patients at Beverly Manor Convalescent Home.
In 1967, Len and Ruth realized a life long dream to relocate to the West Coast when Len went to work for Ampex in Redwood City. Ruth took on most of the logistics of the move which included the construction of a new home and getting the family settled. They became active members of Los Altos United Methodist Church where Ruth pursued her most active volunteer responsibilities. For over ten years she served as chair of "Angels on Call" where she coordinated food delivery, transportation and loving care for those church members in need. She accomplished this despite her deteriorating condition and inability to drive caused by her MS. The Los Altos Town Crier recognized her incredible dedication and contribution to the community by naming her Los Altos Volunteer of the Year in 1993. Ruth was also an active member of PEO, Chapter NW in Los Altos for many years.
The family requests that in lieu of flowers, gifts in Ruth's honor be made to the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Santa Clara County, 2589 Scott Blvd., Santa Clara, CA 95052.
A memorial service and reception in Ruth's honor will be held at Los Altos United Methodist Church, 655 Magdalena Ave., Los Altos, CA 94024 on Saturday, March 21, 2009 at 3 pm.
Published by San Jose Mercury News on Mar. 8, 2009.
Ruth Philips Sainsbury
Courageous, beautiful, loving, and inspiring wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, and mother-in-law, Ruth died in her sleep on February 16, 2009 in her home in Los Altos Hills. Despite spending her last forty years increasingly compromised by multiple sclerosis, Ruth was the embodiment of class and caring as, to the end, she was concerned more about others than herself.
Preceded in death by her loving and dedicated husband Len in October 2008, Ruth survived multiple medical challenges without once seeking pity or special treatment and enjoying regular visits by her friends, children and grandchildren. She is survived by daughters Christine Briner (Paul), Karen King (Dick), and son Dale (Cathy), seven grandchildren Will Sweda (Kelly), Jon Sweda, Kristina Cohen (Marc), Brian King (Jamey), Bradley King, Megan Sainsbury and Ryan Sainsbury, three great-grandchildren Isabella Sweda, Lucy King and Harper King and many nephews and nieces.
Anna Ruth Philips was born on June 18, 1918 in Cato, New York, Ruth was the youngest of six children. After her mother's death when she was eight years old, Ruth was raised by her older sister Zella. She is a graduate of Central City Business Institute in Syracuse, New York.
She met her beloved Len in a youth group at University United Methodist Church at Syracuse University where her future father-in-law presided. Marrying in 1941, Ruth and Len lived in several cities on the East Coast while Len pursued his career in the photographic film industry.
Despite being a full time mother and home maker, Ruth always found time to volunteer. Her many contributions included serving as a Sunday school teacher at Lakewood Methodist Church in Ohio and as a member of United Methodist Women in all of the churches she attended. She piloted a program for senior women at Asbury Methodist Church in Rochester, New York providing weekly lunches and activities and was a regular volunteer at the public library in Pittsford, New York. In Los Altos, she created a program to provide seasonal tray favors for patients at Beverly Manor Convalescent Home.
In 1967, Len and Ruth realized a life long dream to relocate to the West Coast when Len went to work for Ampex in Redwood City. Ruth took on most of the logistics of the move which included the construction of a new home and getting the family settled. They became active members of Los Altos United Methodist Church where Ruth pursued her most active volunteer responsibilities. For over ten years she served as chair of "Angels on Call" where she coordinated food delivery, transportation and loving care for those church members in need. She accomplished this despite her deteriorating condition and inability to drive caused by her MS. The Los Altos Town Crier recognized her incredible dedication and contribution to the community by naming her Los Altos Volunteer of the Year in 1993. Ruth was also an active member of PEO, Chapter NW in Los Altos for many years.
The family requests that in lieu of flowers, gifts in Ruth's honor be made to the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Santa Clara County, 2589 Scott Blvd., Santa Clara, CA 95052.
A memorial service and reception in Ruth's honor will be held at Los Altos United Methodist Church, 655 Magdalena Ave., Los Altos, CA 94024 on Saturday, March 21, 2009 at 3 pm.
Published by San Jose Mercury News on Mar. 8, 2009.
Courageous, beautiful, loving, and inspiring wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, and mother-in-law, Ruth died in her sleep on February 16, 2009 in her home in Los Altos Hills. Despite spending her last forty years increasingly compromised by multiple sclerosis, Ruth was the embodiment of class and caring as, to the end, she was concerned more about others than herself.
Preceded in death by her loving and dedicated husband Len in October 2008, Ruth survived multiple medical challenges without once seeking pity or special treatment and enjoying regular visits by her friends, children and grandchildren. She is survived by daughters Christine Briner (Paul), Karen King (Dick), and son Dale (Cathy), seven grandchildren Will Sweda (Kelly), Jon Sweda, Kristina Cohen (Marc), Brian King (Jamey), Bradley King, Megan Sainsbury and Ryan Sainsbury, three great-grandchildren Isabella Sweda, Lucy King and Harper King and many nephews and nieces.
Anna Ruth Philips was born on June 18, 1918 in Cato, New York, Ruth was the youngest of six children. After her mother's death when she was eight years old, Ruth was raised by her older sister Zella. She is a graduate of Central City Business Institute in Syracuse, New York.
She met her beloved Len in a youth group at University United Methodist Church at Syracuse University where her future father-in-law presided. Marrying in 1941, Ruth and Len lived in several cities on the East Coast while Len pursued his career in the photographic film industry.
Despite being a full time mother and home maker, Ruth always found time to volunteer. Her many contributions included serving as a Sunday school teacher at Lakewood Methodist Church in Ohio and as a member of United Methodist Women in all of the churches she attended. She piloted a program for senior women at Asbury Methodist Church in Rochester, New York providing weekly lunches and activities and was a regular volunteer at the public library in Pittsford, New York. In Los Altos, she created a program to provide seasonal tray favors for patients at Beverly Manor Convalescent Home.
In 1967, Len and Ruth realized a life long dream to relocate to the West Coast when Len went to work for Ampex in Redwood City. Ruth took on most of the logistics of the move which included the construction of a new home and getting the family settled. They became active members of Los Altos United Methodist Church where Ruth pursued her most active volunteer responsibilities. For over ten years she served as chair of "Angels on Call" where she coordinated food delivery, transportation and loving care for those church members in need. She accomplished this despite her deteriorating condition and inability to drive caused by her MS. The Los Altos Town Crier recognized her incredible dedication and contribution to the community by naming her Los Altos Volunteer of the Year in 1993. Ruth was also an active member of PEO, Chapter NW in Los Altos for many years.
The family requests that in lieu of flowers, gifts in Ruth's honor be made to the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Santa Clara County, 2589 Scott Blvd., Santa Clara, CA 95052.
A memorial service and reception in Ruth's honor will be held at Los Altos United Methodist Church, 655 Magdalena Ave., Los Altos, CA 94024 on Saturday, March 21, 2009 at 3 pm.
Published by San Jose Mercury News on Mar. 8, 2009.
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