June 1, 1913 — May 21, 2008

   Ruth Cherry Lear was born in Waterville, Wash., to E.L. and Beth Cherry on June 1, 1913. She was the oldest of five children. She died May 21, in Portland, at the age of 94.

   Ruth went to school in St. Maries, Idaho, and Hermiston and graduated from high school in Condon. She attended Pacific University one year then transferred to Oregon Normal School (now Western Oregon University) in Monmouth. Following graduation, she taught first grade three years in Dallas, Ore.

    She married Gene Lear in Corvallis on Sept. 11, 1938. Their first home was in Heppner, where Gene was a county agent with the OSU Extension Service. They later lived in Hermiston, The Dalles and Redmond.

   When Gene was transferred to Corvallis, the family moved there in 1956. Except one year in Boston, while Gene got an advanced degree at Harvard, and three years in Washington D.C., while Gene was Associate Director of the Federal Extension Service, she lived in Corvallis until November, when she moved to Portland.

   Ruth was an active member of the First United Methodist Church where she taught Sunday school, served on church boards and was a member of the United Methodist Women. She was a member of PEO, OSU Folk Club and the Good Samaritan Hospital Auxiliary.

   Ruth and their two children went with her naval officer Gene to Miami, Fla., for three months. When he was put on a ship to go to the Pacific theater of WWII, Ruth drove with a 4-year-old and a 2-year-old across the country, some 3,000 miles, in winter, to return to Oregon.

   She enjoyed reading, raising and arranging flowers, traveling, camping and fishing with her family. She enjoyed visits with family and especially visiting with grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

   Ruth is survived by son, Dr. Jerry Lear and his wife, Julie, of Bend; daughters Janet Fisk of Santa Rosa, Calif., and Joyce Lear and her husband, David Leibbrandt, of Portland; eight grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

   She was preceded in death by her husband, Gene; her brother, Dr. Howard Cherry of Portland; and sisters Jean Harrington of Eugene and Mildred Godard of McMinnville.

   Memorial services will be held 3 p.m. Saturday, June 7, at the United Methodist Church, 1165 N.W. Monroe Ave., Corvallis.

   Contributions may be made to the United Methodist Church Foundation or Benton County Hospice c/o McHenry Funeral Home.