| Ruth Anna Bernard Winner |
RUTH ANNA BERNARD, passed from this life on
Sept. 16, 2010 in White Salmon, Wa. of idiopathic
pulmonary fibrosis.
She was born in Roanoke, Virginia on February 15,
1934 to Lula Ida and Harold Irvin Bernard, the ninth
child of a family of four boys and five girls. She is survived
by her sister, Carrie "Peggy" Parrot of Arlington, VA, daughter Dana,
sons Ken and Karl, granddaughters Laila, May and Erika and grandson
Blake. Ruth was aunt to 27 nieces and nephews and great aunt to third
and fourth generations of the Bernard family.
Ruth attended Eastern High School in Washington, D.C. while also
being employed as an office assistant. She grew up in and was very active
in Metropolitan Baptist Church in Washington, D.C., especially as a
member of the choir.
After her 1952 marriage to John Winner, she was a busy homemaker and
mother. She volunteered extensively in community organizations such as
Colonial Players Theater of Annapolis where she was an award winning
costume designer and member of the Board of Directors. She also
worked for the Federal Government in the Internal Revenue Service,
Civil Service Commission and in private industry.
She retired from ARINC in Annapolis, MD. in 2000 and moved to the
Columbia River Gorge to be close to her grandchildren, exchanging the
pleasures of the Chesapeake Bay for the beauty of the mountains of the
great Northwest. In retirement Ruth contributed to the White Salmon
community through part-time employment as the Greeter for the Gorge
Heritage Museum where she also studied the local history.
Her next adventure was with the Americorp Program on assignment to
the Mt Adams Ranger Station after which she returned to the Museum
for several years while also serving Columbia Riverkeeper. Finally, she
served with the Mt Adams Chamber of Commerce until October 2009.
Ruth has been active volunteer for the City of White Salmon City Council
Committees.
The greatest contribution was with the swimming pool committee. She
also provided extensive computer support to the committee responsible to
update the Comprehensive Plan Document.
The family asks that her friends keep her in their thoughts and prayers
and do a kindness in her memory. A Memorial Service was conducted
September 26th at 5:00 PM at Skyline Hospital in White Salmon WA.
Published in The Capital Gazette on October 1, 2010
