Ruth Eloise Ence

Ruth Eloise Ence, age 80, of Rogue River, died Thursday, January 28, 2010 at Fair View Transitional Health Center.

No services are planned. Hull & Hull Funeral Directors are in charge of arrangements.

Remembrances may be made to Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, PO Box 650309, Dallas, Texas 75265-0309.

Ruth was born October 29, 1929 in Detroit, Michigan an only child to Howard & Mary (Sullivan) McMillan. As a young girl, she moved to Seattle, Washington where she lost her father to drowning in Puget Sound. Shortly after, she and her mother moved to Richmond, California where she graduated from Richmond High School in 1946. She married and divorced twice, giving birth to two sons, and then met Leslie R. Ence, Jr in 1955. They were married in September 1956 and were married for 51 years. In 1957 they bought a house in Hayward, California where they lived until 1991. During that period, they were foster parents for 11 years to almost 40 children. She worked at Jackson Goldie Ford in Oakland for several years and for 16 years at Alhambra Water in Hayward as head of payroll/accounting until retiring in 1991. In October 1992 they moved from Hayward to Rogue River where they joined the Grants Pass Fleet Reserve Association. After a paralyzing stroke in June 2008 she resided at Fair View Transitional Health Center in Grants Pass until her death.

Ruth was a 2-time breast cancer survivor. Over the years, she volunteered with Little League, Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts and for three years with Three Rivers Community Hospital Ladies Auxiliary in Grants Pass.

She was a member of the Fleet Reserve Association.

Her hobbies included gardening, crafts, reading, cake decorating, and especially spoiling her grandchildren.

Survivors include two sons, David Ence of Ashland, Dana Ence of Rogue River; three grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and two brothers-in-law.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Leslie Ence in October 2007.