July 14, 1919 ~ May 14, 2012
Ruth Summerhays Rich was born on a mission to bring peace and civility into this world, to bring humor and fun to all who knew her. She was perfect. Never got angry, never swore, never lost her temper, had not a single fault - always just such pleasant and joyful company! Born the youngest of 5 to Mary Bennion and Joshua James Summerhays. A love of music, piano and vocals, was the mainstay of the household. That music vented relief from an arduous routine of sheer drudgery by all the sons (and subsequent grandsons) working at the J.W.Summerhays & Sons - Utah Wool Pulling business. Ruth worked as the bookeeper for the family business. Graduated East High School, and from the U of U School of Social Work in 1940. Ruth was a horsewoman riding with the U of U Trotter's Club, and member of Pi Beta Phi sorority. Ruth sang fantastic harmonies as a contralto in the "Pi Phi Quartet", starting in 1938, and through her college years. The other members were Donna Madsen, Betty Thompson, and Lorraine Hyde. They were a huge hit singing Friday nights ("college nights") at the Hotel Utah in the Empire Ballroom. They also did galas to raise money to build the University Fieldhouse. Those tense years building up to WWII also forged a sweet courtship between two excellent musicians when Ruth got "pinned" to Sam Rich, a Beta who played trumpet in a group called "Three Sharps and a Flat". Samuel Grover Rich and Ruth were married in the Salt Lake Temple on June 18, 1941. After S. Grover graduated in Political Science at the U they moved to Mexico City where S. continued his studies. In March of 1943 they boarded the Portuguese ship Serpa Pinto for a harrowing 23 day voyage to Valencia, Spain, where Sam was to serve as the U.S. Vice Consul to Spain during the war. They zigzagged across the Atlantic, carrying 150 British children returning to England after the "buzzbombs" rained on the blitz of London, and they stopped at every island in the Azores to rescue Merchant Marines stranded by the naval battles. Ruth remembered many celebrities on the ship - playwright Maxwell Anderson, journalists Vance Packard and Frederick Prokosch. Ruth was on the last ship to allow women aboard to cross the ocean, and after they landed in Lisbon and went on to Valencia, she was one of only 3 Americans there at the American consulate. The rigors of life in Spain during WWII formed a bond that held them fast together through their future. Ruth remembered just before they left Valencia in early December 1945, hearing the political prisoners being shot to death along the dry Turia River behind their apartment. They boarded a Liberty ship loaded with cork and headed for home returning a month later in January 1946. Back in the U.S. Sam and Ruth moved to Palo Alto where S. got his PhD at Stanford while Ruth worked for a professor of Western Civilization, and their son Sam was born. With Sammy in tow, S. pursued his studies and teaching jobs at Princeton, Yale, and Columbia universities. When S. returned to take a professorship at the U of U, the rigors of their early years evolved into a full enjoyment of skiing, golf, travel, and lifelong friendships in the vibrant Salt Lake community they so loved.
Preceded in death by sister Virginia S. Howard, brothers Joseph Rowland, Joshua Bennion, and Howard Bennion Summerhays, son Samuel Grover Rich III, husband S. Grover, and sister-in-law Gaylie Rich Brockbank.
Survived by sister-in-law Gloria Rich Hendricks, daughter Laurie Rich, son-in-law Leonard Coulson, granddaughter Brooks Coulson (Du) Nguyen, great granddaughter and grandson Annabella and Camden Nguyen, and a multitude of wonderful nieces and nephews.
Graveside service for friends and family at 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, May 22nd at SLC Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Ruth's name to Nature Conservancy of Utah.
Published in Salt Lake Tribune from May 19 to May 21, 2012
Ruth Summerhays Rich was born on a mission to bring peace and civility into this world, to bring humor and fun to all who knew her. She was perfect. Never got angry, never swore, never lost her temper, had not a single fault - always just such pleasant and joyful company! Born the youngest of 5 to Mary Bennion and Joshua James Summerhays. A love of music, piano and vocals, was the mainstay of the household. That music vented relief from an arduous routine of sheer drudgery by all the sons (and subsequent grandsons) working at the J.W.Summerhays & Sons - Utah Wool Pulling business. Ruth worked as the bookeeper for the family business. Graduated East High School, and from the U of U School of Social Work in 1940. Ruth was a horsewoman riding with the U of U Trotter's Club, and member of Pi Beta Phi sorority. Ruth sang fantastic harmonies as a contralto in the "Pi Phi Quartet", starting in 1938, and through her college years. The other members were Donna Madsen, Betty Thompson, and Lorraine Hyde. They were a huge hit singing Friday nights ("college nights") at the Hotel Utah in the Empire Ballroom. They also did galas to raise money to build the University Fieldhouse. Those tense years building up to WWII also forged a sweet courtship between two excellent musicians when Ruth got "pinned" to Sam Rich, a Beta who played trumpet in a group called "Three Sharps and a Flat". Samuel Grover Rich and Ruth were married in the Salt Lake Temple on June 18, 1941. After S. Grover graduated in Political Science at the U they moved to Mexico City where S. continued his studies. In March of 1943 they boarded the Portuguese ship Serpa Pinto for a harrowing 23 day voyage to Valencia, Spain, where Sam was to serve as the U.S. Vice Consul to Spain during the war. They zigzagged across the Atlantic, carrying 150 British children returning to England after the "buzzbombs" rained on the blitz of London, and they stopped at every island in the Azores to rescue Merchant Marines stranded by the naval battles. Ruth remembered many celebrities on the ship - playwright Maxwell Anderson, journalists Vance Packard and Frederick Prokosch. Ruth was on the last ship to allow women aboard to cross the ocean, and after they landed in Lisbon and went on to Valencia, she was one of only 3 Americans there at the American consulate. The rigors of life in Spain during WWII formed a bond that held them fast together through their future. Ruth remembered just before they left Valencia in early December 1945, hearing the political prisoners being shot to death along the dry Turia River behind their apartment. They boarded a Liberty ship loaded with cork and headed for home returning a month later in January 1946. Back in the U.S. Sam and Ruth moved to Palo Alto where S. got his PhD at Stanford while Ruth worked for a professor of Western Civilization, and their son Sam was born. With Sammy in tow, S. pursued his studies and teaching jobs at Princeton, Yale, and Columbia universities. When S. returned to take a professorship at the U of U, the rigors of their early years evolved into a full enjoyment of skiing, golf, travel, and lifelong friendships in the vibrant Salt Lake community they so loved.
Preceded in death by sister Virginia S. Howard, brothers Joseph Rowland, Joshua Bennion, and Howard Bennion Summerhays, son Samuel Grover Rich III, husband S. Grover, and sister-in-law Gaylie Rich Brockbank.
Survived by sister-in-law Gloria Rich Hendricks, daughter Laurie Rich, son-in-law Leonard Coulson, granddaughter Brooks Coulson (Du) Nguyen, great granddaughter and grandson Annabella and Camden Nguyen, and a multitude of wonderful nieces and nephews.
Graveside service for friends and family at 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, May 22nd at SLC Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Ruth's name to Nature Conservancy of Utah.
Published in Salt Lake Tribune from May 19 to May 21, 2012
July 14, 1919 ~ May 14, 2012
Ruth Summerhays Rich was born on a mission to bring peace and civility into this world, to bring humor and fun to all who knew her. She was perfect. Never got angry, never swore, never lost her temper, had not a single fault - always just such pleasant and joyful company! Born the youngest of 5 to Mary Bennion and Joshua James Summerhays. A love of music, piano and vocals, was the mainstay of the household. That music vented relief from an arduous routine of sheer drudgery by all the sons (and subsequent grandsons) working at the J.W.Summerhays & Sons - Utah Wool Pulling business. Ruth worked as the bookeeper for the family business. Graduated East High School, and from the U of U School of Social Work in 1940. Ruth was a horsewoman riding with the U of U Trotter's Club, and member of Pi Beta Phi sorority. Ruth sang fantastic harmonies as a contralto in the "Pi Phi Quartet", starting in 1938, and through her college years. The other members were Donna Madsen, Betty Thompson, and Lorraine Hyde. They were a huge hit singing Friday nights ("college nights") at the Hotel Utah in the Empire Ballroom. They also did galas to raise money to build the University Fieldhouse. Those tense years building up to WWII also forged a sweet courtship between two excellent musicians when Ruth got "pinned" to Sam Rich, a Beta who played trumpet in a group called "Three Sharps and a Flat". Samuel Grover Rich and Ruth were married in the Salt Lake Temple on June 18, 1941. After S. Grover graduated in Political Science at the U they moved to Mexico City where S. continued his studies. In March of 1943 they boarded the Portuguese ship Serpa Pinto for a harrowing 23 day voyage to Valencia, Spain, where Sam was to serve as the U.S. Vice Consul to Spain during the war. They zigzagged across the Atlantic, carrying 150 British children returning to England after the "buzzbombs" rained on the blitz of London, and they stopped at every island in the Azores to rescue Merchant Marines stranded by the naval battles. Ruth remembered many celebrities on the ship - playwright Maxwell Anderson, journalists Vance Packard and Frederick Prokosch. Ruth was on the last ship to allow women aboard to cross the ocean, and after they landed in Lisbon and went on to Valencia, she was one of only 3 Americans there at the American consulate. The rigors of life in Spain during WWII formed a bond that held them fast together through their future. Ruth remembered just before they left Valencia in early December 1945, hearing the political prisoners being shot to death along the dry Turia River behind their apartment. They boarded a Liberty ship loaded with cork and headed for home returning a month later in January 1946. Back in the U.S. Sam and Ruth moved to Palo Alto where S. got his PhD at Stanford while Ruth worked for a professor of Western Civilization, and their son Sam was born. With Sammy in tow, S. pursued his studies and teaching jobs at Princeton, Yale, and Columbia universities. When S. returned to take a professorship at the U of U, the rigors of their early years evolved into a full enjoyment of skiing, golf, travel, and lifelong friendships in the vibrant Salt Lake community they so loved.
Preceded in death by sister Virginia S. Howard, brothers Joseph Rowland, Joshua Bennion, and Howard Bennion Summerhays, son Samuel Grover Rich III, husband S. Grover, and sister-in-law Gaylie Rich Brockbank.
Survived by sister-in-law Gloria Rich Hendricks, daughter Laurie Rich, son-in-law Leonard Coulson, granddaughter Brooks Coulson (Du) Nguyen, great granddaughter and grandson Annabella and Camden Nguyen, and a multitude of wonderful nieces and nephews.
Graveside service for friends and family at 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, May 22nd at SLC Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Ruth's name to Nature Conservancy of Utah.
Published in Salt Lake Tribune from May 19 to May 21, 2012
Ruth Summerhays Rich was born on a mission to bring peace and civility into this world, to bring humor and fun to all who knew her. She was perfect. Never got angry, never swore, never lost her temper, had not a single fault - always just such pleasant and joyful company! Born the youngest of 5 to Mary Bennion and Joshua James Summerhays. A love of music, piano and vocals, was the mainstay of the household. That music vented relief from an arduous routine of sheer drudgery by all the sons (and subsequent grandsons) working at the J.W.Summerhays & Sons - Utah Wool Pulling business. Ruth worked as the bookeeper for the family business. Graduated East High School, and from the U of U School of Social Work in 1940. Ruth was a horsewoman riding with the U of U Trotter's Club, and member of Pi Beta Phi sorority. Ruth sang fantastic harmonies as a contralto in the "Pi Phi Quartet", starting in 1938, and through her college years. The other members were Donna Madsen, Betty Thompson, and Lorraine Hyde. They were a huge hit singing Friday nights ("college nights") at the Hotel Utah in the Empire Ballroom. They also did galas to raise money to build the University Fieldhouse. Those tense years building up to WWII also forged a sweet courtship between two excellent musicians when Ruth got "pinned" to Sam Rich, a Beta who played trumpet in a group called "Three Sharps and a Flat". Samuel Grover Rich and Ruth were married in the Salt Lake Temple on June 18, 1941. After S. Grover graduated in Political Science at the U they moved to Mexico City where S. continued his studies. In March of 1943 they boarded the Portuguese ship Serpa Pinto for a harrowing 23 day voyage to Valencia, Spain, where Sam was to serve as the U.S. Vice Consul to Spain during the war. They zigzagged across the Atlantic, carrying 150 British children returning to England after the "buzzbombs" rained on the blitz of London, and they stopped at every island in the Azores to rescue Merchant Marines stranded by the naval battles. Ruth remembered many celebrities on the ship - playwright Maxwell Anderson, journalists Vance Packard and Frederick Prokosch. Ruth was on the last ship to allow women aboard to cross the ocean, and after they landed in Lisbon and went on to Valencia, she was one of only 3 Americans there at the American consulate. The rigors of life in Spain during WWII formed a bond that held them fast together through their future. Ruth remembered just before they left Valencia in early December 1945, hearing the political prisoners being shot to death along the dry Turia River behind their apartment. They boarded a Liberty ship loaded with cork and headed for home returning a month later in January 1946. Back in the U.S. Sam and Ruth moved to Palo Alto where S. got his PhD at Stanford while Ruth worked for a professor of Western Civilization, and their son Sam was born. With Sammy in tow, S. pursued his studies and teaching jobs at Princeton, Yale, and Columbia universities. When S. returned to take a professorship at the U of U, the rigors of their early years evolved into a full enjoyment of skiing, golf, travel, and lifelong friendships in the vibrant Salt Lake community they so loved.
Preceded in death by sister Virginia S. Howard, brothers Joseph Rowland, Joshua Bennion, and Howard Bennion Summerhays, son Samuel Grover Rich III, husband S. Grover, and sister-in-law Gaylie Rich Brockbank.
Survived by sister-in-law Gloria Rich Hendricks, daughter Laurie Rich, son-in-law Leonard Coulson, granddaughter Brooks Coulson (Du) Nguyen, great granddaughter and grandson Annabella and Camden Nguyen, and a multitude of wonderful nieces and nephews.
Graveside service for friends and family at 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, May 22nd at SLC Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Ruth's name to Nature Conservancy of Utah.
Published in Salt Lake Tribune from May 19 to May 21, 2012
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