Ruth Whitney Nyberg
Resident of Stockton and Corralitos
Ruth Whitney Nyberg passed away on August 13, 2013 in Capitola, California. She was a long-time resident of Stockton but spent considerable time in Corralitos and Aptos. Ruth lived a life filled with love for 92 years. She died of complications from dementia. Ruth was preceded in death by her husband Walter L. Nyberg, and her parents Rich and Calla Whitney of Syracuse, New York. She is survived by four children (Jane, Jim, Peter, Paul), six grandchildren (Wesley, Leah, Heather, Ashley, Sarah, James) and five great grandchildren (Marcus, Brandon, Isabella, Joshua, Isabelle). Ruth graduated from Syracuse University, received a masters degree from University of the Pacific, and was a member of the Kappa Alpha Theta social fraternity.
Ruth shared her love of life with family, students, friends, members of the church and many others over the years. Her husband Walt was a Methodist minister and later a college professor. The two of them served congregations in Massachusetts, Oregon, Kansas, and New York, before arriving in Stockton in 1962 where Walt began teaching at University of the Pacific. Ruth started the Central Methodist nursery school in Stockton in 1963, which is still going strong fifty years later. She taught school for twenty-two exciting years in the Stockton Unified School District, and received the teacher of the year award in 1988 just before retiring. She organized "Mothers and Others for Peace", the Stockton chapter of "Another Mother for Peace", and chaired the group for five years. In between teaching, raising four children and enjoying her grandchildren she participated in a Stockton campaign to recall a mayor, organized the fundraiser that put the steeple back on St. Mary's Catholic church, built a geodesic dome in Corralitos, and did numerous other things to improve life in her communities.
In many large and small ways Ruth shared her loving spirit and sense of humor with the rest of us. With a smile, she would hand a hug coupon to a fellow human which stated "good for a minimum of one hug" and "redeemable from any cooperating human". She gave and received many hugs. We are most blessed to have had such a loving mother, teacher, grandmother, and friend who touched our hearts.
Please join us for a celebration of Ruth Nyberg's life on Saturday October 5 at 1 PM at Central Methodist Church in Stockton, 3700 Pacific Avenue.
If you have digital photos of Ruth or comments that you wish us to share at the celebration, please email them with your name to [email protected]. For more information email [email protected].
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
2 Entries
So sorry to hear of Ruth's passing - I recall she/Walt when they lived at senior apts. with my parents in Stockton - a great pair. My heart goes out to Jane Nyberg, with whom I worked at UCSC sometime ago. Sincerely, ellen m. wood, santa cruz ca, [email protected].
Ellen Wood
September 22, 2013
I have fond memories of both Ruth and Walt from our times together at Dominican Oaks. The were wonderful people, and Heaven will joyfully receive them both..
Larry Collister
September 22, 2013
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