Ruth M. Casper

Ruth M. Casper, 87, long-time Vallejo resident and active member of the community, died peacefully at home on April 11th, after a long illness. She was surrounded by her family. Ruth, originally from Bangor, ME, lived in Vallejo for 58 years. Ruth was born to Arthur R. Ellingwood, Sr. and Mildred S. (Megquier) Ellingwood of Bangor, Maine. Ruth graduated from Bangor High School in 1948. She was an active member of Girl Scouts throughout High School and also played field hockey, basketball and volleyball. Ruth attended the University of Maine in Orono where she was an active member of Chi Omega Sorority and involved in the ROTC. She graduated in 1952 with a degree in Physical Education. While attending the University of Maine, Ruth was also a contestant in the Miss Maine Contest. After graduating from the University of Maine, Ruth’s adventurous side and desire to travel the world far beyond Bangor, ME, brought her to her TWA Airlines. She was a Stewardess there from 1952 until she retired from flying in 1960, when she married Kenneth K Casper, Sr. of Vallejo, CA. The two met on Waikiki Beach in Hawaii on one of her stop overs from Japan. At that time, Stewardesses were not allowed to be married. Ruth traveled to many exciting and exotic destinations while flying with TWA, including India, Cuba, all over Europe and Egypt to name a few. Ruth loved TWA and was very sad when TWA was acquired by American Airlines. Ruth logged over 1 million miles while flying with TWA. Ruth not only got to see the world while working for TWA, but moved around the United States quite a bit. While training with TWA, she was based in Kansas City, then moved to New York City, LA and Hollywood. Ruth was proud to represent TWA at the grand opening of Disneyland in 1955, and also to fly on TWA’s inaugural flight with non-stop jet service from New York to Frankfurt. Ruth was very active in the community over the years. She was involved in many organizations which included Vallejo Navy League, Solano County Lawyers Wives, Napa-Solano Counties Panhellenic, Vallejo General Hospital Guild (now Sutter Solano). She was also a long time member of the Vallejo Presbyterian Church. Ruth enjoyed the many years she spent at Green Valley Country Club, as well as golfing with the Blue Rock Springs women’s golf club. Ruth’s love for traveling continued throughout her lifetime. She was a travel agent for over 35 years. She travelled with family to Hawaii several times, China, St. Thomas, Riviera Maya Mexico, London, and a favorite trip was a cruise of the Panama Canal with her sister Jackie Lang. The family’s annual summer vacation to Camp Richardson at Lake Tahoe was always a favorite of Ruth’s. Ruth loved her family and she was actively involved in their lives. While her parents were still living, Ruth made regular trips to Bangor, Maine to visit and she would always return home with a care package full of her favorite delicacy, Maine Lobster. No one could pick a lobster like Ruth! She was not afraid to tell you if you were picking it wrong, and then show you the correct way to do it. Ruth never missed an opportunity to get her lobster fix. She enjoyed several lobster boils/wine tastings with daughter Susan, where she enjoyed two of her favorite things, lobster & wine. What made Ruth the happiest was her family, her dogs, and her granddaughters. Ruth loved spending time with her family, especially her pride and joy, her two granddaughters, Emily & Molly. She loved watching them grow up and go off to college. She never minded being the grandma taxi. “Grandma” loved taking them to and from wherever she could. She never missed a birthday, show, performance or sporting event. She could often be seen at an event proudly wearing her University of Maine baseball cap and from time to time her Casper the Ghost ball cap. Everyone knew “Grandma Ruth”! Ruth’s dogs (her “babies”), were a very important part of her life, and she loved them all dearly. Ruth is survived by her children, Susan Casper of Vallejo, Kenneth K Casper Jr. (Stephanie) of Benicia; Grandchildren Emily Casper and Molly Casper of Benicia; Sister Jacqueline Lang of Colorado Springs, CO., Niece Nancy (Wilson) Jazuk; Nephews, Bill Wilson, Rick Wilson, Al Lang, Dave Ellingwood and many great and great-great nieces and nephews. Ruth’s husband Kenneth (Kay) Casper Sr. predeceased Ruth in 2001 and her brother Arthur R Ellingwood Jr. predeceased her in 2007. A Celebration of Life will be held at 1:30 p.m., Sunday, June 24th at Twin Chapels Mortuary in Vallejo CA with a reception immediately following from 2:30 p.m to 5:30 p.m at Zio Fraedo's in Vallejo. More information is available at www.twinchapelsmortuary.com . Donations can be made to the Alzheimer’s Association at www.alz.org.

Ruth M. Casper

August 7, 1930 - April 11, 2018