Ruby Doi

1922 - 2018

1922 ~ 2018
Salt Lake City, UT-Ruby Y. Doi, 95, passed away peacefully on March 27, 2018 due to incidences of age. She was born in Seattle, Washington on October 2, 1922, the only child of Hidakichi and Sato Kanegae Yamashita. They lived on a farm growing potatoes, onions and rhubarb (which she hated). Mom was one of the few girls who learned the martial art of kendo (fencing). She was chosen to participate in a tournament in Japan but unfortunately, it was cancelled due to the escalating tensions between Japan and the US. Mom graduated from Sumner High School and was preparing to attend the University of Washington when the family was evacuated to the Puyallup Assembly Center before being transferred to the Minidoka Internment Camp in Idaho.
Like many young women at camp, she was released early to move to Salt Lake City to work as a housekeeper. She soon found a job at Duplers Fur. During this time she became active in the Salt Lake Buddhist Church and participated in many social activities. This is where she met our dad - the charming man with the nice car, who always gave her orchid corsages! George and Ruby were married in 1946 and in 1948 they opened Doi's Cleaning and Laundry located on Second South. Since Dad had a full-time job, Mom ran the shop primarily on her own until its closure in 1976. Mom then went to work at the Sears Distribution Center for more than 10 years, then began a nearly 20 year career packing chocolates and dipping strawberries at Cummings Chocolates.
Mom took up golf later in life and developed a passion for the game. But when asked why she was using her 3-wood 50 yards out she would always reply: "Well, it looks farther than that." She loved playing in the Forest Dale and Nibley's Ladies Golf Association with her fellow "frogettes." After she could no longer play, she enjoyed watching the Golf Channel, as well as the Utah Jazz and Ute football. She was always surprised when they won!
Mom was an active member of the Salt Lake Buddhist Temple, serving on the board of the Temple and the Buddhist Women's Association. She was honored with both the Sangha and Dana awards.
The family would like to thank Vilma Rodriguez for her devotion to our mom during the last six months of her life. Vilma brought much joy and comfort to Mom and we are eternally grateful.
Mom is survived by her children Juddy, Nashville, TN, Steven (Janice), San Jose, CA and Susan, Salt Lake City, and two grandsons, Michael (and soon to be granddaughter, Irene) and Jeffrey, sisters-in-law Chiyoko (Kay)Terashima and Takeko (Ichiro) Doi and many loving nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her husband, George (2010).
A memorial service to honor Ruby's memory will be held on Friday, May 18 at the Orangerie at the Red Butte Garden, 300 Wakara Way. Visitation with the family will begin at 9:30 AM with a short program beginning at 10:30 AM. Parking may be very limited so carpooling is suggested and assistance with our older friends would be appreciated. Arrangements entrusted to Memorial Deseret Mortuary.