Obituary
February 02, 2011
Obituaries
Ruth Stone van der Las
Ruth van der Las passed away on Wednesday evening, January 19, at the Vista Cove Care Center in Santa Paula, California, just two months shy of her 100th birthday. She was born March 27, 1911 in Lone Pine, Nebraska. She was the daughter of Reta Williams and Fred W. Stone of Scottsbluff, Nebraska. Her father owned a Texaco bulk plant, and later became Mayor of Scottsbluff. Her mother played piano for the silent movies, as well as for all the dances in town. Ruth and her dancing partner became known as the town’s best dancers.
Ruth attended Lindenwood College for Women in St. Charles, MO, and after two years she transferred to the State College in Chadron, Nebraska. She was always a voracious reader, excelled in writing, and appeared in numerous college plays. She met Harold van der Las in college in Chadron. They had two daughters, Sue and Linda, whom they raised in Denver, Colorado. During World War II Ruth worked in a prisoner of war camp in Nebraska as a secretary. The first prisoners were German, followed by Italian prisoners. The children had an idyllic childhood, which was broken in the teenage years when Harold became an alcoholic, and Ruth divorced him in order to make a happy home for the girls. She drove to Los Angeles and made a new life for the family, working to support her daughters.
Ruth had various jobs, each time making lifelong friends among her coworkers. At one time she worked for a theatrical agency, and she delighted in describing her friendship with Bobby Darren, who would sing and dance for her when he called on his agent. She also sold real estate in West Los Angeles and the San Fernando Valley.
Her daughter Linda gave birth to a baby boy, Devin, whom Ruth adored. In 1970 Linda met and married the writer-director Bernard Girard, and the family was blessed with the addition of Bernard’s three sons (Chris, Michael and Peter Girard), whom Ruth loved as her own grandchildren. The family lost Devin at the age of 21 with cystic fibrosis. Ruth had moved to Ojai to be nearer to Devin, and worked at Ojai’s City Hall.
Ruth left Ojai when offered a job by the Chief of Police in Santa Monica, where she served in Internal Affairs. She worked until the age of 83, when she retired by her own choice. She received special recognition by the SMPD.
She moved to Santa Paula thirteen years ago to be near her daughter Linda, although she traveled to New York City many times to spend several months staying with her daughter, Sue Shamroy, where she again established lasting friendships.
Ruth lived at the Santa Paulan Senior Apartments, where she had many dear friends. She loved Santa Paula, and passed many afternoons at the Santa Paula Coffee Company, where she enjoyed watching the passers-by, frequently commenting that Santa Paula had the most beautiful children in the world. She will be missed and remembered for her love of life, her love of all things beautiful, her wit, her taste and sense of style, and her readiness to say a resounding “Yes” to all the experiences that came her way.
The family is grateful to the Vista Cove Care Center for their kind care of Ruth. In lieu of flowers, the family believes that Ruth would have been grateful for donations to The Spirit of Santa Paula (to benefit the homeless), 848 East Main Street, Santa Paula, CA 93060, or Saint Paul’s Episcopal Church, 117 North 7th Street, Santa Paula, CA 93060.
A memorial to celebrate Ruth will be held on Saturday, February 5, 2:30 P.M. at Saint Paul’s Episcopal Church (117 No. 7th Street).
