Ruth Eliene Schleh, wife, mother, grandmother and friend, died surrounded by her family, at Regency on Whidbey, Harbor Care, Oak Harbor on July 5, 2010 at the age of 89. Ruth was born in Colorado Springs, Colo., on May 18, 1921 to Enoch W. and Pat Nelson.

Ruth’s father worked for the U.S. Forest Service and the family followed his assignments to Ogden, Utah, Ft. Collins and other locations. He left the Forest Service and began a career as a professor at Colorado A & M.

After completing high school, Ruth served with the U.S. Army Air Corps. Ruth returned to school, attending the Presbyterian Women’s College, where she received her undergraduate degree and then went on the Colorado A & M to complete her Master’s Degree as an English teacher. She was an English teacher and also a gifted writer.

Ruth was married to Keith Malcolm Schleh on March 23, 1947 in Fort Collins. Keith was employed in the aerospace industry for most of his life and the family moved to Valley Forge, Penn., Emporium, Penn., Buffalo, N.Y. and finally to Bellevue, Wash., in 1960. With Keith’s retirement in 1988, Ruth and Keith moved to Whidbey Island, settling in Shangra-La Shores. Following Keith’s death in 2003, Ruth moved to Oak Harbor and Regency.

Ruth was a long-time member of Whidbey Presbyterian Church, the League of Women Voters, the Pacific Northwest Writers Conference and was an avid bridge player.

Ruth is survived by her children and their spouses: Malcolm Schleh and wife Deborah Spaine of Tehachapi, Calif.; Janet and Klaus George of Flensburg, Germany; and Barbara and Mark Hudson of Seattle. Four grandchildren: Joshua and Megan Schleh and Eileen George and Kevin Hudson and one sister Janet Sinclair of Los Alamos, N.M., also survive.

Memorial services will be held at Whidbey Presbyterian Church on Saturday, Aug. 14, at 2 p.m. with Rev. Dave Templin officiating. Burial with full military honors will at Sunnyside Cemetery to follow. Arrangements are entrusted to Burley Funeral Chapel, Oak Harbor.