Bea Carter Ruark

Oct. 13, 1915 - April 5, 2004

Former Corvallis resident Bea Carter Ruark, of Salem, died Monday, April 5, from complications of Alzheimer's disease. She was 89.

Bertha Warren Carter was born Oct. 13, 1915, in Boston, Mass. She graduated from Framingham State Teacher's College in 1937 and earned a Masters of English from Boston University in 1939. She taught at Presque Isle, Maine, while working toward a doctoral degree with author Gerald Brace.

In 1942, she married Henry C. Ruark. They were divorced for 10 years before remarrying in 1982.

In 1953, she moved to Oregon. During the 1970s, she worked for the Corvallis Gazette-Times and the Salem Statesman Journal as a classified ad proofreader and librarian.

Survivors include her husband, Henry of Salem; sons, Nick of Vancouver, Wash., Jeremy of Bend, Les of Arlington, Loren of Eugene; and daughter, Ellen of Rowena. Her sister, Ruth, a longtime Corvallis resident and instructor of children's literature at Oregon State University, preceded her in death in 1993.

Disposition was by cremation. Spreading of the ashes will occur at a private family gathering.

Memorial contributions can be made to the Alzheimer's Association, Salem Hospital, or Providence Benedictine Nursing Center in Mount Angel.

Arrangements were made by Virgil T. Golden Funeral Service.