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RUTH PRATT ZIMMERLIN MONOSMITH

RUTH MONOSMITH Obituary


Einan's Funeral Home

Ruth Monosmith, 91, passed away peacefully on January 21, 2011, after an extraordinary life in which true love struck twice.

Born in Evanston, Illinois, in 1919, she grew up in the Chicago area where she met the man she would eventually marry, John D. 'Jack' Zimmerlin. After Jack enlisted in the army and was temporarily stationed in the Presidio in San Francisco in 1942, Ruth and Jack quickly arranged to marry before Jack had to ship out for duty in the South Pacific in World War II.

After the war, Ruth and Jack lived in Oak Park, Illinois. They had four children: Judy, Sally, Dan and Jim. A few years after the last of the kids was born, Jack got a job opportunity in California and he and Ruth moved to the San Francisco Bay area. They bought a home in Orinda in 1959, and had a wonderful 47 years of marriage before Jack passed away in 1989.

Following Jack's death, Ruth thought her life was pretty much over ... but fate had a little surprise for her. Through her involvement with the Orinda Community Church, Ruth met Rudy Monosmith ... who had also recently lost his spouse. Ruth and Rudy quickly hit it off, and what happened next was a wonderful period of Ruth's life that she simply never anticipated. Ruth and Rudy married in 1990 and the following years were among the best that Ruth ever experienced ... including trips all around the world. They had 15 years together before Rudy passed away.

Following Rudy's death, Ruth moved out of the home where she had lived for over forty years and in to an assisted living facility in Moraga, California. In April of 2009, she moved to the Callaway Gardens special care center in Kennewick, in order to be closer to her daughter, Judy Klaustermeyer, who lives in the Tri-City area.

Ruth's ashes will be inurned along with Jack's at the Oakmont Cemetery in Lafayette, California, in a private family service on March 11, 2011.

Ruth is survived by her children Judy (Jim) Klaustermeyer, Sally (Kevin, deceased) Smith, Daniel (Elizabeth Stern) Zimmerlin, and Jim (Kellyn) Zimmerlin; also by Rudy's daughters Betty (Bill) Page, Alice (Shay) Pickton, and Pat (Phil Shoptaugh). She was also blessed with numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Memorial donations may be sent to Orinda Community Church, 10 Irwin Way, Orinda, CA 94563-2554.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Tri-City Herald on Feb. 25, 2011.

Memories and Condolences
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February 27, 2011

We were very sorry to hear of Ruth's passing. I have great memories visiting California, Jack and Ruth and their family in Orinda for the first time many years ago with my mom and dad. Jack and Ruth were very good friends and neighbors of my parents, John and Lois Neu, in Berkeley, Illinois. I have forwarded this notice electronically to my parents and my siblings. Please know that our thoughts and prayers are with your families.

Sincerely,
Jim Neu
Martinez, Ca.

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