Grace Ruth Weston Block

1919 ~ 2016
Grace Ruth Weston Block, born September 22, 1919, died peacefully in her home after a very short illness on October 31, 2016. Ruth was born in Meadowville, Utah near Bear Lake to Joseph and Grace Eldredge Weston. She spent her summers with her brothers and parents on the ranch and her winters in her family's second home on J Street in the Avenues. She was number 8 of 9 children, having had a younger sister who passed at age 3 and 7 older brothers.
During the great depression, her parents took her on a trip across the United States to Washington, D.C. and back in a Model T Ford. They stopped at major historical sites and museums along the way and this created a lifelong love of history and patriotism. As a young woman, Ruth was chosen as Rodeo Queen of Utah after being Rodeo Queen of Rich County, and she spoke highly of being taken to the Capitol to meet Governor Blood. She graduated from East High School before attending the University of Utah as a Fine Arts Major where she proudly received A letter grades in all of her male-dominated chemistry and science classes.
While she was at university, WWII broke out and she took a job in the secretary corps at the Fort Douglas Army Base. She was then transferred to work as the secretary for Colonel Ramsey with the 6th Army in San Francisco stationed at the Presidio. After the war, she returned to Utah and married Paul Weinstein Block in 1953. They were married until his death in 1987. She never remarried. Together they had 2 children: Paula Leslie Block Draper and Joseph Richard Block. Ruth worked in x-ray dictation for the physicians at the Veterans Hospital of Salt Lake City and as secretary for the President of Silver King Mining Company in Park City before becoming a dedicated full-time spouse and mother.
She was highly interested in and knowledgeable about Asian art, European art, pottery, U.S. and World History and was a passionate gardener, cook, and lover of animals. She raised horses, geese, cats, dogs, sheep, pigs, fish, and many other kinds of pets while raising two children and a grandson, Paul W. Taylor Draper, and maintaining multiple homes. In her 90's, she traveled to see the sites of the famous ancient Wonders of the World, including climbing to the top of the Acropolis.
Ruth has been described by those who knew her as a classy, no-nonsense woman, filled with warmth, strength, and a playful defiance. She was gleeful, compassionate, perceptive, and funny with an incredible thirst for knowledge, a great storyteller with sparkling eyes who could make anyone laugh. She was generous, feisty, smart, and in her late 90's still doing her own yard work and jumping into the bags of leaves to compact them down. Ruth was immediately likeable and always left people better for having met her.
She remained strong, healthy, and resilient through her 97th birthday and into her 98th year. In her life, she experienced the inventions and rise of the radio, car, commercial airplanes, television, computers and even actively participated with people on the internet. She would encourage you to "Find your giggles. Find something to make you happy every day, something to look forward to. Get a little sun on your face and don't be afraid of hard work. Take pride in small accomplishments because they build on each other. Always find time to be with art and nature. Mountains and trees are beautiful."
Ruth was preceded in death by her parents, siblings, her husband Paul Block and her daughter Paula Draper. She is survived by her son Richard Block and her grandson Paul W. Draper, as well as her extended Weston and Weinstein family. She will be buried at the Laketown, Utah Cemetery with a short graveside service. Contact Paul Draper for details.