June 14, 1912 - March 25, 2008

Ruth C. Hope was born June 14, 1912, to Andrew and Grace Staley Collins of Ottawa, Kan. After high school at Ottawa, she received her home economics education at Kansas State College of Agriculture and applied science at Manhattan, Kan., in 1934.

She married Boyd H. Hope on July 30, 1935. They lived in Kansas and Missouri and then moved to Englewood, Colo. They came to Corvallis in 1967. Boyd died in 1985. Ruth moved to The Regent Residence in January 2001.

Ruth taught home economics at Alton, Mo., and at Paola, Kan. In the Denver area, she taught elementary grades for 10 years. She was an active 4-H leader in Vernon County, Mo., and for a year wrote a weekly farm column for the Nevada Daily Mail.

During her time in the midwest, she wrote items that were published in Country Gentleman, Farm Journal, Household Magazine, National 4-H Magazine and Woman's Day.

In Corvallis, Ruth helped promote the Abundant Foods program for the local Extension Service. She was a working member of the Nursing Home Task Force, the Linn-Benton Diabetes Association and of Creative Writing at the Corvallis Senior Center. After her husband's death, she traveled extensively - especially with Elderhostel.

Mrs. Hope enjoyed traveling, reading and writing, collecting seashells and rocks, and companionship with many friends.

She is survived by two sons, Wayne Hope of Dallas, Ga., and Dale Hope of Naples, Fla. Other survivors include four grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

A funeral service is planned for 2 p.m. Tuesday, April 1, at McHenry Funeral Home. Burial will be at Crystal Lake Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to Corvallis-Benton County Public Library sent via McHenry Funeral Home, 206 N.W. Fifth St., Corvallis, OR 97330.