Ruby Kortan

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Ruby Arlene Kortan, nee Crawford, on December 15, 2024 at the age of 104. Ruby was born in Monte Vista, Colorado on April 10, 1920, and moved with her family to Oxnard, California, at the age of four. As a teenager, she helped her single Mom raise her two brothers while cleaning houses and attending Oxnard High School. In 1940, she met a dashing young airman, Malcolm Kortan, at a dance held to see soldiers off to war in the South Pacific theater. A whirlwind romance involving Indian motorcycles and late night rides resulted in their marriage, and five years later, the birth of Ruby’s son, Gary (Donna) and some years later, the birth of daughter Rebecca, both of whom survive their Mother. Ruby’s husband Malcolm left this world in April of 2006.

Ruby and Malcolm owned orange grove acreage in Bardsdale, California, where they were responsible for 149 acres of orchards. Long days and short nights, large gardens, animal husbandry, and worry over crop prices filled Ruby’s time for many years, but still allowed her to raise her children in a supportive and rural environment. In the good years, a newer car appeared in front of the barn, and in the lean years, the many jars of canned vegetables and fruit that she “put up” saw the family through.  

She was an accomplished cook and seamstress, collecting recipes by the dozen and crafting everything from Halloween costumes for the kids to formal suits for her husband. Every Sunday was church day and the family was always well dressed, thanks to her.  

Ruby filled her retirement years with sewing, cooking, and caring for her beloved Poodle, Mitzi. The gardens were smaller, and the acreage was much smaller as she moved from the farm into town, Santa Paula, California, but Ruby enjoyed feeding her family on special occasions and spending time with her grandchildren, Teresa and Jeffrey. Her family included four great grandchildren.  

Ruby’s wish was to live as long as her mother, who was 104 years, 8 months, 13 days old at the time of her death. Ruby was 104 years, 8 months, 5 days old when she left us to see if Dad had caught any heavenly fish. She almost made her goal.  

Ruby will be sincerely missed by her family and an extensive caregiving group.