In Memory

Ruth Mary Hannum (Hawkins) - Class Of 1939

Ruth Mary Hannum (Hawkins)

Ruth Mary Hannum Hawkins, born May 18, 1921, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, passed away peacefully in her home of 24 years in Lake Havasu City, Arizona on May 22, 2016, after short illness. She was 95.

Ruth graduated high school in South Pasadena and spent a year at UC Davis majoring in landscape architecture. Along with playing the organ and RVing, gardening was her favorite pastime. She married William Hawkins on February 6, 1942, and followed him to Doak Aircraft in Torrance, California. William joined the Navy and they moved to San Diego where Ruth worked for Standard Oil as a full service gas attendant. They settled in Mar Vista in 1952 where Ruth raised two sons, Richard and James. When the boys were in their teens, she worked for several years in a school cafeteria to earn vacation money for trips to Hawaii and Mexico. She and William remained happily married for almost 73 years until his passing in 2014.

Ruth loved games, especially bridge, scrabble and crossword puzzles. In her golden years she and William played Party Bridge at the senior center in Lake Havasu City and she continued until her death. She also enjoyed trips across the lake and into Laughlin where she usually hit a jackpot. Always strong and athletic, she became something of a celebrity at the Wellness Center where, in her final year, she worked out. An animal lover, she adopted several dogs and a cat from the Western Humane Society.

Ruth is survived by her two sons and their wives, Pamela and Lamar, four grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Lietz-Fraze Funeral Home, May 2016