Family, faith and friends were at the center of the life of Ruth Mary Waters, who died on July 6, 2012. She was 79.

Born May 31, 1933 in Silverton to Jacob and Henrietta Kaiser, Ruth lived her entire life in Oregon. After attending Mt. Angel Academy in Mt. Angel, she graduated from St. Joseph School of Nursing in Vancouver, Wash., where she met her husband, Bill.

Married in 1955, they started their family in Lakeview and moved to Portland in 1966 where she continued her successful nursing career for 27 years at Providence Hospital.

After her retirement in 1993, Ruth loved spending time with family, friends and her church community and had the opportunity to travel and see much of the world with her husband, Bill.

Ruth had a huge, caring heart and spent countless hours volunteering for causes that she believed in. She reached out and touched the lives of so many people with her love, compassion, kindness, nurturing spirit, great sense of humor and quick wit.

Ruth is survived by her husband of 56 years, Bill Waters; daughters, Peggy Griffith and Patty Holland; son, John Waters; sisters, Myra Frenz and Irma Baldwin; nine grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. Ruth was preceded in death by her daughter, Susan Galeski and son, Jim Waters.

A memorial service was held at the Chapel at Mary’s Woods in Lake Oswego on July 12, 2012.

Contributions in Ruth’s memory can be made to The Holy Names Sisters Foundation, P.O. Box 411, Marylhurst, OR 97036.