Alice “Ruth” Brittle

Ruth’s early childhood was spent in Copeland, Kansas where her grandfather owned a lumber yard. Her mother raised the children and did various jobs supporting the family one of which was doing laundry for passing construction crews. It was a young man on one of these crews, Ira “P-Nut” Russell Brittle, who Ruth fell in love with. This August, they would have celebrated their 60th anniversary.

In 1959, P-Nut got a job in Oregon to work at the Aluminum Plant in The Dalles. Ruth followed by train after their first child Tammie (deceased) was born. They gave birth to Lance in 1961. They started out living in Rowena and later moved to The Dalles where Tony was born in 1973.

Ruth was  involved in the community, and was a member of the Chenowith School Board from 1971 until Tony’s graduation in 1991, ending her time on the board serving as school board chairman. She was an active volunteer at the Discovery Center. Throughout the years, she was a member of the Homemaker’s Extension Club and served for three years on the Wasco County Advisory Board. In 1989, she was voted Education Citizen of the year, a testament to Ruth’s passion for the educational system. She also was a Oregon State University Master Canner and served as a canning judge at the county fair.  In her younger years, she enjoyed camping on the beach with her family and they were members of a Jeep Club called Columbia Gorge Climbers, where she raced jeeps.

She is survived by Ira; her son Lance Brittle and wife Peggy, along with three grandchildren Maggie, Amie and Seth and wife Kristen; and Tony Brittle and wife Sarah.

Services are Thursday May 9, 2019, at Emanuel First Baptist Church in The Dalles, Oregon.

Viewing at 1 p.m., services commencing at 2 p.m. and reception following.

In lieu of flowers and in memory of Ruth’s daughter Tammie, please make donations to: Albertina Kerr 424 NE 22nd Ave. Portland, Ore. 97232 or: albertinakerr.org