Friday, September 12, 2008

Ruth Carrie Dunn


Ruth Carrie Dunn, the fourth child of Simeon Harmon Dunn and Anna Buletta Jensen Dunn, was born in Eastdale, Colorado. Her parents could never agree on the date that she was born. Grandpa said it was one day, and Grandma said it was another. Grandma said that she should know because she was there. As a little girl, Ruth lived for a time in Eastdale, but soon moved to Manassa with her family. She lived in Manassa until she graduated from high school in 1925.
She then went to LDS Business College in Salt Lake City, Utah. She also attended telegraphy school. Her two older sisters, Frances and Ethel, were in nurse's training there.
Ruth worked in Salt Lake City in the office at Utah Wollen Mills for a while and then returned to Colorado. She worked at J.C. Penney's in Antonito, and it was here she met Bill Koch. Ruth married William Emil Koch on 31 December, 1933, in San Luis, colorado. Ruth and Bill told us one day in the mountains that the day that they were married, the Sherriff was shot. His body was on display at the courthouse. Bill and Ruth had to see his body before they returned home.
Ruth and Bill moved to Alamosa and Ruth worked for Gordon Stores for 17 years. She worked for Alamosa National Bank for two years, and for Kavley's Department Store. She then worked then for 20 years as Clerk of the county court, and as clerk of the water court. Ruth has always been a working woman.
Ruth and Bill enjoyed their family and grandchildren. especially picnicing and camping on the Conejos river.
Ruth and Bill have been generous in helping extended family members, as well as their own immediate family. I would always plan on seeing Ruth at our house with new school clothes for us in the fall.
Mother (Gatha Wilson) spent some time with Ruth at her home in Alamosa a year ago this January. She moved to a nursing home shortly after that visit. There was recently an article in the Alamosa paper congratulating Ruth for celebrating her 103rd birthday.
Portions of this entry were taken foom A History of the Ancestors & Descendants of Simeon Harmon Dunn and Anna Buletta Jensen, compiled by Vera Louise Oliver and published privately in June of 1993.

2 comments:

Unknown said...

Kent, thank you for posting our aunts histories. They have been a big part of our lives, because our parents were gone and they tried to help us through the years. Í'll forever be grateful to my aunts. Ruth was always watching for things to buy for us. Bill paid for surgery on Bonnie's eyes. There was a time when I didn't have a winter coat, because Kent didn't have a coat and mine was becoming ragged looking. I took the good parts of the coat and made a coat for Kent. One day Ruth brought a new coat for me. She didn't know how badly I needed it. She just found this coat on sale and bought it for me. All of our aunts cared for us, with a lot of love.

Larry said...

How is Ruth?