Ruth I. Vanderwood

August 12, 1914-September 6, 2110

Ruth Vanderwood, 96, passed away on September 6, 2010 at Oakview Convalescent Hospital, Tujunga. She was a 76 year resident of the Crescenta Valley, 70 years in La Canada.

Ruth was born to Forrest and Blanche (Whitelaw) Pierce on August 12, 1914 in Los Angeles. She grew up in Glendale with her three brothers, and attended Glendale schools, graduating from Glendale High School in 1931. She met her future husband, Richard (Dick) Vanderwood, in Glendale. They were married in 1934 in Santa Ana. Richard joined the Post Office, advancing through the ranks to become Postmaster in the Montrose office for several years. He passed away in 2006 at age 94.

After she and Richard married, they moved to a house in Montrose where they started their family. Dick and his father, a master carpenter, built their home in La Canada in 1940, where they raised their family and lived the rest of their lives. They also had a home in Capistrano Beach, an area that they loved and spent many happy years before and during their retirement.

Mamoo, as her grandchildren called her, spent her life as a wonderful wife, mother and grandmother. She was a lifelong Christian Scientist.

Ruth is survived by daughters Gretchen Durnell and Jill (Warren) Apel, son Richard Jr. (Janet); nine grandchildren: Lori, Robert, James, Jamie, Richard, Lisa, Krista, Kevin, Kimberley; five great-grandchildren: Kyle, JJ, Allison, Dylan, Brandon; one great-great grandchild: Kingston, and a brother Forrest Jr. (Joyce).

The family wishes to thank her caregiver, Lorna Cervantez, for her loving care during the last two years, and Angelica and the staff of Angels of the Valley Hospice.