Ruthann Mary Pullen

Ruthann Mary Chambers Pullen

Ruthann Mary Chambers Pullen, devoted wife and mother, passed away on Saturday, February 25, 2012, at the University of Virginia Medical Center.

Ruthann was born on April 18, 1925, to Ruth and Evander Chambers in Brooklyn, New York. At the age of two she moved to Queens Village, New York. Ruthann attended Public School 33 and graduated from Jamaica High School. She subsequently worked in the advertising department of McGraw Hill publishing and also modeled part time. On Saturday, September 7, 1946, Ruthann married her best friend and the love of her life Edwin Wesley Pullen, shortly after he was discharged from the Navy. In 1948, the couple moved to Charlottesville to start a family, while Ed completed his PhD.

Ruthann raised four children--two boys and two girls. She took tremendous joy in her family. She loved the sunshine and the beach. She always had music playing in the home. Ruthann had the greenest thumb of anyone around. She was an amazing seamstress. She loved to play tennis. She could be serious or silly and had a spunky sense of humor. Ruthann was also a fantastic cook. In her mid-seventies, to everyone's amazement, Ruthann taught herself to play the piano beautifully. Until very recently, she remained the most organized person you would ever meet--a list maker, a calendar keeper, always early, never late.

Surviving are her brother, David Chambers and his wife, Muriel, of Arvada, Colorado; as well as her remaining children, Wayne Pullen and his wife, Belinda, of Charlottesville, Jeff Pullen and his wife, Connie, of Lynchburg, and Susan Pullen Spencer and her husband, Buddy, of Stanardsville; six grandchildren and their spouses, Jim Pullen of Charlottesville, Sarah George Thorn and her husband Lukas of Astoria New York, Nicholas Pullen and his wife, Karen, of Richmond, Jonathan Pullen of Lynchburg, Jennifer Albert Butler and her husband, Jason, of Esmont, and Lucas Albert of Barboursville. She is also survived by four great-grandsons, Jonathan, twins Gabriel and Tyler, and baby Ethan Butler of Esmont. She leaves behind her dear friends at The Colonnades, along with the wonderful staff who made her feel at home. Ruthann is reunited with her youngest daughter, Kimberly, who passed away in 2001; and her beloved husband of 56 years, Edwin W. Pullen, who passed in 2002.

The family is indebted to the staff of The Colonnades and the University of Virginia Palliative Care Unit.

A celebration of life will be held with her Colonnades family. Interment will be private. The family suggests that memorials be made to the E.W. Pullen Merit Scholarship Fund, established by the medical school class of 1966, c/o UVa Medical Alumni Association, P.O. Box 800776, UVA Health System, Charlottesville, VA 22908, or the Center for Biomedical Ethics and Humanities, c/o Daniel Becker MD, P.O. Box 800758, Charlottesville, VA 22908. Friends may send condolences to the family at www.hillandwood.com.



This obituary was originally published in the Daily Progress.