Ruth Knox, 96, died Aug. 13, 2020 at the family home in Grand View, Idaho surrounded by her husband and family. She was born Dec. 24, 1923 in Creswell, Oregon, the daughter of Matthew and Frances Wilson Kirkpatrick.
She attended Creswell schools until her senior year when her family moved to Springfield. Even though she graduated a member of Springfield High Class of 1942, she always considered herself a member of the Creswell Class of ‘42 and enjoyed attending the annual community class reunions with her sisters and brothers.
Upon graduation from Eugene Business College she was employed by the City of Eugene where Ruth and her supervisor were the only female employees working in the city hall. She would laugh and say, “My supervisor and I did everything; I wonder what they all do now?”
May 5, 1944, she and Clifford Knox, of Springfield, were married in Eugene when his ship, the USS Saratoga, came into Bremerton Naval yard for World War II damage repairs.
In 1952 they moved to Shoshone Falls, near Twin Falls, Idaho, then to C.J. Strike Power Plant near Grand View in 1956. She worked for Gem State Utilities telephone company in Grand View. When the company was purchased by CenturyTel, she accepted the responsibility as area manager for telephone service to Bruneau, Grand View, Oreana, Idaho and Owyhee, Nevada, a position she held until her retirement.
She was a 64-year member of Knight Community Church in Grand View where she served in many positions of leadership.
Ruth enjoyed all card games and was an excellent bridge, and Pinochle player. Playing pinochle at the Grand View Senior Center Tuesday and Thursday afternoons until COVID-19 forced them to stop meeting. She treasured time at the Oregon coast, lighthouses and watermelon. Most important to her were her family and time with them.
Ruth is survived by her husband of 76 years, Clifford of Grand View; daughter Carol Swenson (Bob) of Grand View; son Glenn Knox (Diana) and brother Jerry Kirkpatrick (Gladys), both of Springfield; grandchildren Wendy and Eric Swenson, as well as Pam and David Knox; great-grandchildren Logan and Regan Stansell, as well as Katelyn and Nathan Knox. Her grandchildren, along with their good friends, affectionately called her “gang.” In addition to her parents Ruth was preceded in death by her two sisters, Helen Brush and Doris Miller, and three brothers, Donald, Eugene and Carroll Kirkpatrick.
Private family services were held at the Idaho State Veterans Cemetery, Boise, Idaho. Arrangements entrusted to Rost Funeral Home, Mountain Home, Idaho.
In appreciation for their kind, excellent service, memorials may be given in Memory of Ruth Knox to the Grand View Ambulance Service, P. O. Box 191, Grand View, ID 83624 or to the Grand View Senior Center, P. O. Box 453, Grand View, ID 83624.
Special thank you for the support and love given by transitional care providers Tiffany Mederios, RN, RBS, Annie Rutherford, RN, & Jenny Settlemeyer, CNA with First Choice Home Health and Hospice.
