Ruth Bundy Nelson

Ruth left this life quietly on June 16, just 11 days short of her 98th birthday. She is survived by her 3 children, her 8 grandchildren, and her 12 great-grandchildren. She was married to her husband, Richard, for 65 years. Born at home on Claremont Avenue in Jersey City, New Jersey, Ruth remembered the sounds of that city long into adulthood: the clanging bells of fire engines racing up their street, the horses' hooves clicking on the cobblestones, the clickety clack of the trolleys, and the ragman calling, "Rags, Rags" as he pushed his cart along the sidewalk.Ruth loved her parents, her gentle, affectionate father, William George Bundy and her "precious" mother, who Ruth's aunts called "Chrissie." She adored her 2 older brothers, Happy and Bill. In 1927, when Ruth was 10, the family moved out of their coldwater flat and into their "dream house" on a quiet tree-lined street in Maywood. Ruth attended Maywood High School, where she and 2 girlfriends formed the "Maywood Trio," singing and playing their ukuleles to the delight of their fellow students. Graduating from high school in the middle of the Depression, Ruth went straight to work at the Hamilton Watch Co. and then in the steno pool at Guaranty Trust Co. 140 Broadway, in New York City, where in 1941, she met young Dick Nelson, who was about to report to midshipman's school as a 90-Day Wonder. He proposed on their 3rd date, and they were married on September 26, 1942, in the Presbyterian church in Hackensack, New Jersey. Smiling from ear to ear, the newlyweds, left the ceremony under an arch of crossed swords raised by a cordon of ensigns in dress whites. While Dick was stationed in the Pacific, Ruth and her new baby, Tina, spent the war years in New Jersey with Ruth's mom. In 1945, the long years of separation finally came to an end, and Dick returned to his Ruthie. Their daughter Susan was born 2 years later, followed by their son, Peter, in 1949.In 1953, the young family moved from Montclair, New Jersey to Brentwood in west Los Angeles. Ruth had taken the train to LA in 1939 to visit her brother, Happy, and still remembered all those palm trees and glorious sunshine. She made a warm, loving home out of the Brentwood house. Ruth, a wonderful hostess and an excellent cook, she was absolutely fearless in the kitchen, entertaining friends and family with the ease of a seasoned pro. In 1958, after renting a house on Balboa Island for a family vacation, Ruth and Dick fell in love with Newport; within the year, they packed up the kids and moved into the 2nd house built in the new Irvine Terrace. Although they were in that house only 2 years, they would return to the same street 4 years later and remain there for the rest of their lives. Living in Corona Del Mar, Ruth became involved in her community with remarkable energy and creativity. She was a gifted leader and organizer, and she used her talents to help found the Orange County Philharmonic Society and a county chapter of Meals on Wheels. Ruth was one of the 1st female elders at St. Andrews Presbyterian Church and remained involved in the ministries of her church well into her 80s. While many who knew her will doubtless remember Ruth for her tireless and compassionate commitment to her community, her family will remember her most for her wonderful sense of humor, her common sense, her unfailing thoughtfulness, and the love she gave to everyone of us. She led her children to faith, she created memories that will last all our lives, and she taught us to celebrate even the littlest moments with one another. To celebrate this life lived so well, a memorial service will be held at 2:00 PM, on July 10th, in the chapel at St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, Newport Beach.