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In memory of

Ruth Elizabeth Chang

Los Angeles, CA, USA

1940 - January 16, 2021

1940 - Jan 16, 2021

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Ruth Chang, 80, of Neodesha, KS, passed away on January 16, 2021 after a long battle with dementia.

Ruth was born on June 11, 1940 to parents Elmer Douglas and Grace Eva Grice in Neodesha, KS. After high school, she attended Emporia State University where she went on to earn a degree in teaching.

After graduation, she married Allen Moorehead MD in 1962 and by 1968, Ruth and Allen made their way across the Pacific where she taught on an American naval base in Japan. Shortly after their arrival to Asia, Ruth and Allen divorced, and she traveled to Taiwan. In her time there, she met Jose Chang whom she married in 1971. That same year, they gave birth to their first child, Christina and then their second, Jose in 1975.

Ruth began teaching at Taipei American School in 1972 and in 1977 moved to Emporia KS for a one year sabbatical to earn her Masters in Counseling. Upon moving back to Taiwan in 1978, her new degree enabled her to serve as Guidance Counselor at TAS, a role she created for their elementary school and still exists at the school today. In 1989, she decided it was time to embark on a new adventure and moved to Hong Kong to serve as guidance counselor at Hong Kong International School. In 2001, she lost her husband Jose to colon cancer and two years later was diagnosed with breast cancer. She beat the disease and finished out her successful teaching career of 44 years, retiring in 2006 to the United States.

Being the independent and adventurous woman she was, Ruth bought a car and traveled across the States for one year, stopping in several states and cities to visit the many friends she made through the years. She finally settled down in Orlando so she could work part time at the Magic Kingdom, as she had always been a huge fan of Disneyland. She enjoyed 4 years as a park greeter until the dementia forced her to remove herself from her position at Disney. She moved to Los Angeles in 2014 to spend the rest of her life with her daughter and beloved granddaughter.

She will be remembered for many things, but above all, her infectious laugh, love of travel, independent spirit and warm fuzzies.

Ruth is survived by Jose, Christina, son in law Soam Lall, and their daughter Samara.

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