Ruth Lillian Hunter (nee Russell) passed away January 12, 2026

Ruth was born February 16, 1930 here in Nanaimo BC at the old Malaspina Hospital. She grew up across from Nob Hill Park and began doing odd jobs for her neighbor “Old Mrs. McGregor” at the age of 9, spending as much time there as she did at home! She ran all over Chinatown to get “old Lum” to come and throw the wood and coal into the basement from where the truck would dump it in the driveway. Ruth would then chop the wood and take it upstairs to the fireplaces and smash the coal with a sledgehammer small enough to fit into the stove carrying it in baskets up the stairs. Every day after school she would run to the Old Creamery along the tracks, where there was a tap on the outside of the building to collect buttermilk in bottles for scones. Ruth would then deliver bread & baking all along Milton St, she was paid 25 cents a week! She would deliver bed linens and tablecloths to the Bowkee Laundry in Chinatown as well. She’d spend her hard earned money on candy at McKenzies Candy Store, Ice cream cones were 5 cents, 10 for a double, 6 toffee suckers were 5 cents with or without chocolate dip, salt water taffy cream and chewy Turkish delights 2 for a penny! Ruth could climb like a monkey and could strip a Queen Anne Cherry tree from top to bottom, her pay a bucket of cherries and all she could eat while climbing! Ruth knew some good swear words and as a side hustle “King” Saventi would pay her 5 cents to let off a stream of them.

At 16 she went to work at David Spencer’s downtown ladies wear, staying on there after ownership changed to Eatons where she started in the mail order department and then to the post office sub station. 

At 18 she married Wilbert Hunter and had 2 children Cheryl and Grant. 

She was an avid soccer mom in early years, and also  enjoyed the I.O.D.E, A.C.T., Jobs Daughters and DeMolay.

After 40 years at Eatons she worked at Hardings Diamond Merchants, Whittingham & Martins clothing store, My Favorite Things in the Coast Bastion and then Huxleys gift shop in the old city quarter before retiring. Her retirement days were spent babysitting her great grandchildren. She never drove, always lived downtown and walked everywhere, taking the great grandkids to the waterfront was her favorite. She was a fast walker, we always said she marched, you couldn’t drive around the block to pick her up she’d be long gone! 

Ruth loved to dance, taking disco dancing in the late  70s and taught the grandchildren the Hustle in her apartment living room! She was also famous for her humour and could remember any joke, the dirtier the better!

Ruth was widowed in 1975 and leaves behind daughter Cheryl (Henry d.) and son Grant (Cheryl d.) Grandchildren Jennifer, Sabra, Nicholas (Kelly) Michael (Norma) and Elizabeth (James) Great grandchildren Austin, Alexandra (Dan) Ry, Ravyn, Dodge, Nash, Chevelle, Lincoln, Andrew, Emily and Margaret. Great-great grandchildren Morrison and Caris. 

Always loved and forever missed. 

Send to someone

Share this obituary with others

https://everloved.com/life-of/ruth-hunter/obituary/

Copy