We are sad to hear about the passing of your Mom. I was just thinking about her the other

day that I should send her a card. I do not get my email read everyday and I missed seeing

your note until just now as I was deleting the many, many emails.

Your mom and dad were such sweet people. They were so kind to us when we first moved to

Washington in 1965 and for all the years after. Your dad came to visit us when the kids were

Small. I remember the kids gave him a hard time trying to visit with him. I hope that he enjoyed it

As much as they did.

I would go with your mom to WMC. I was new to the area and had no idea where some of the homes were.

I particularly remember a trip to Doris Hewitt house when they lived over by the airport. If I remember 405 or

One of the street was being worked on and there were barrels and lights everywhere. Really hard seeing and driving.

Your dad and Mrs. Bunch had so much fun at some of the adult church parties. They would both laugh so much.

Especially one time when Bill Kirchner brought a chicken as a gift. I thought your dad was going to fall off his chair.

Your parents had four wonderful girls. They adored all of you. We are so glad we had a chance to spend time with the

Barlow family. Such great memories.

Grandma was kind and caring.  The porcelain dolls she made were beautiful - the clothing and details so well made.  Amazing how she could sew those tiny buttons on this dresses!  I remember Grandma taking Aleece & I to the doll show so we could pick out new wigs for our dolls - we both wanted curls for our dolls!  

Other general memories - camping in their trailer, digging for clams, visiting them in Alaska & fishing.  This is more of a grandpa memory, tho I'm sure grandma was there - we were fishing (of course) in Alaska and it must have been opening weekend or something.  Shoulder to shoulder people on the river banks.  Grandpa put me on a rock a few feet from shore where I was fishing and kept getting stuck on the bottom.  I kept yanking my hook out of the water and Grandpa rebaiting my hook.  I finally had a fish but didn't know it.  Grandpa was making his way to help me and the fish got away before he got there.  I decided I was done with this fishing stuff and tried to get back to shore.  I fell into that icy cold water!  I think fishing was probably done for the day -- sorry grandpa!  ;-)

More memories of Grandma - learning about cooking and canning in her kitchen and best of all making home made ice cream in the old style ice cream maker packed with ice and a rock salt.  We all begged to lick the beater when it was done.  Once I sliced my finger in the her kitchen while cutting an apple - I still have a faint scar.  When I see the color lavender, I think of her.

Love you grandma!

My fondest memories of Ruth are from the time I spent with her and Ivan in Alaska during the summer between semesters in college.  Ruth and Ivan were gracious enough to allow me to stay with them as I explored Alaska.  What I didn't realize at the time was how much of that adventure they would create.  

Ruth was the very picture of the prefect wife, mother, and devoted christian.  Their modest trailer in Anchorage was clean and neat, her meals delicious, and she provided great company.   The adventure started one day when Ivan called from work and basically said "the salmon are spawning, we are going fishing".  Without further direction from Ivan, she had the coffee made, the lunches packed, and everything else needed and ready to go fishing.  Ivan arrived shortly and we drove 100 miles north of Anchorage.  The fishing was incredible and she prepared our catch in a brine that Ivan smoked, delicious.  

Later in that visit, the three of us went fishing at the Kenai peninsula.  We stayed in the camper trailer right out on the beach where we watched the seals bobbing up and down in the water.  We went fishing in the small boat they had.  I was fortunate enough to have full rain gear for protection while Ivan and Ruth got pretty wet in the less than ideal weather conditions because they only wore ponchos.  But, no complaints, just laughs and advice to me for fishing too deep (I caught a flounder).  

Back at the trailer, as we were getting ready for bed, Ruth warned me "better get to sleep fast and first, Ivan snores".  Wow, she wasn't kidding.  I can't believe she endured that noise every night for probably many years of their marriage. 

There have been a few exceptional people I've known that I consider an example to live by and emulate.  Ruth would be one of those.  I know she and Ivan enjoyed life to the fullest.