Ruth Jackson

It's with a heavy heart we announce the passing of Ruth Jackson. She lived her best life and was only a few month short of her 104th birthday. She was born in Decatur, Illinois, and was the second to youngest of 12 children. She attended Milligan University studying French, but when World War II started Ruth found herself working in a munitions factory and interpreting French. After the war, Ruth and her younger sister came out to California with her parents to join her older sisters. A handsome young man who just returned from the war delivered a refrigerator to one of her sisters, and Ellet and Ruth were married soon after. The young couple lived in Sierra Madre while El worked as a diesel and magneto salesman, and Ruth worked at Bank of America as assistant to the president. Their daughter Lorna Gail was born, followed by a son Ellet Craig. They saw a need for a diesel shop in Bakersfield, so they started Automotive Diesel and Electric Company. They ran a successful business on the circle for 40 years. After retirement, El and Ruth traveled the world. Ruth was an avid volunteer in Kern County taking young women to visit the capitol with Republican Women, worked at the Jameson Center, Boy Scouts, and started 2 churches: St. Marks, and St. Luke's Episcopal church. She took elderly people to doctors appointments, which she told us were younger than her, and took in foreign exchange students. After her husband passed in 1995 she continued to travel with her children, enjoyed gardening, and belonged to a monthly birthday group with some of her dearest friends. Ruth knew the Lord, and she loved her family. Ruth is survived by her daughter Lorna Gail McElfish (Frank), son Craig Jackson (Terri), grandsons Clint McElfish(Peggy), Luke McElfish (Stacy), Chris Gilmer, and great grandchildren Madison, Sean, Caleb, Ian, and Tucker. Services will be held on January 17th at Greenlawn Southwest at 11:00 am. Ruth Jackson Bakersfield -