Katherine Tanner "Ruth" Beaver

Katherine "Ruth" Tanner Beaver passed away on Tuesday, September 2, 2025. She was born in Washington, D.C. and lived in the Washington metropolitan area for most of her life. She was very proud to be a native Washingtonian. She graduated from Anacostia High School and went straight to work as a secretary for the Federal Government, which she served with distinction for 37 years, mostly working for the U.S. Army in the Pentagon. After a short marriage, she raised three children on her own while working full time. She met the love of her life, Jack Sanford, in 1970 and they shared their lives until he died in 2018. Ruth was a life-long member of St. Matthew Lutheran Church in SW Washington, where she taught Sunday School and served on the Church Council. She loved music and had a beautiful singing voice – she was always in the choir and sang at her daughter's wedding and others too. After she retired, Ruth and Jack enjoyed traveling and spending time with family. In 2022 Ruth moved to Sanders Retirement Village in Gloucester, Virginia near her daughter Janet's home; her sister Linda moved nearby to spend these remaining years with Ruth. Ruth was gentle and unassuming, yet she was usually the heart of whatever she was involved in: family, church, work and community. She made friends everywhere she went, from all walks of life. She truly lived the virtues of integrity, responsibility, faith, love and service throughout her life. Ruth leaves to mourn her passing: her children Janet Deschak (Mark), Eric Beaver (Denise) and Regina Beaver (Paul Osborn); her sisters Linda Tanner and Janet Nelson; her beloved grandchildren Adam Beaver, Erica Deschak-Joya, Caroline Deschak, Maxwell Beaver, Olivia Beaver and Nicholas Beaver; her great-grandson Santiago Deschak-Joya; and many nieces and nephews, cousins, and friends. The family would like to express our gratitude to the staff at Sanders Heron Cove II, in Gloucester, for taking such wonderful care of Ruth for the last six months, including during her final illness. A celebration of Ruth's life will be held on Sunday, November 9, 2025, at 2:00pm, at St. Matthew Evangelical Lutheran Church, 222 M Street SW, Washington DC 20024. In memory of Ruth, memorial contributions may be made to St. Matthew, at 222 M Street SW, Washington DC 20024. To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Katherine "Ruth" Tanner Beaver, please visit our floral store.