Ruth LeMay DeVault was born on 21 April 1917 in Martinsburg, Audrain Co., MO. She married
, on 19 June 1937 in Mexico, Audrain Co., MO. Ruth LeMay DeVault died on 11 June 2002 in La Jolla, San Diego Co., CA,
Ruth LeMay (DeVault) Read -- A Remarkable Lady
"The unexpected twin." Perhaps that would be the most accurate way to describe my grandmother,
Mimi's (Ruth's) first moments.
On April 31, 1917, in a small town by the name of Martinsburg, Missouri, a baby boy was brought into the world . . . . . . and a few minutes later his twin sister was, too. The stories she heard of the birth told of a second baby that was so unexpected they wrapped her in some blankets and put her in the warming oven. Soon after the birth, when the twins were eighteen months old, a near tragedy struck. Ruth and Francis took sick and were rushed by train to Barnes Hospital in St. Louis, Mo. My grandmother isn't sure what the sickness was, but remembers her brother went into a coma and had to stay longer at the hospital. Luckily, both twins were spared.
Although she was the unexpected child, Ruth LeMay DeVault thought her childhood to be full and happy. Her father, John B. DeVault sold Studebakers for a living and provided a comfortable home for his wife, Effie Dye Walker, and their three children. Their house in Mexico, Missouri, was built with the rooms circling around a core room where the children loved to play. Young Ruth got along well with her younger brother, John, and her twin, Francis. In fact, one of her earliest childhood memories is of her riding a bike with John in the basket. Over the years, the children played games like checkers and dominos or with their many collies. One particular family vacation she remembers, was the time they went to visit Mr. DeVault's relatives in Kentucky, when she was about ten. My grandmother found it memorable because the family served their salad as a separate meal. The DeVault family had close ties to their Presbyterian Church. Mr. DeVault was a church elder and superintendent of Sunday School, while Ruth spent some of her time there playing the piano. Although they were strongly tied to the church, Ruth attended a public school until college. From first grade on, Ruth and about eight other school girls were an inseparable group. "Of course, I always liked the boys," she remembers. By sixth grade she had many boyfriends. One boy even brought her a birthday present of candy while riding his pony!
Sadly, because of the terrible depression that was hanging over the country, Ruth was the only one of her group of friends that was able to attend college. She attended a Christian girl's college in town. She remembers, laughing, that the students were not allowed to go into town without their gloves on. She also attended the University of Missouri, where she majored in humanities and piano/organ. Once out of college, she married Orville Hockett Read. They had met at a Demolay Organization dance when she was a sophomore. According to my grandmother, he was attractive because he was older (out of college when she met him) and willing to wait for her to go to college. They were to have a huge, traditional wedding in the Presbyterian church, but her mother took sick and it was cancelled. The sickness, sadly became quite serious and Mrs. DeVault died when Ruth was nineteen. The wedding did go on though, just smaller. The newlyweds took a short honeymoon, what most people would call a business trip to Duluth, Minnesota. Orville had some work to do there so Ruth accompanied him. After the trip, they returned to their home in Detroit, Michigan. Their first child was born in San Mateo, California. The bouncy girl was named Ruth Carol Read. Her brother (my father) John DeVault Read, followed a few years later in Newark, New Jersey. The children got along well and brought their parents great joy in their personalities and accomplishments. Sadly, in October of 1991, my grandfather passed away. It was a tough time for those that were close to the intelligent man, but the family coped. One of the largest trips my grandmother has taken as an adult was when she went along with my father when his choir toured Europe. John was high school age and they both found it to be a very good experience. Of the many places she has lived as an adult, her favorite is the small beach town of La Jolla, California, where she lives now. Ruth gained some recognition in La Jolla when she was elected associate vice president of the Coldwell Banker Real Estate branch in town. She is retired now, but is still doing her best to help the community. In her spare time, she helps manage the Darlington House, which raises money for a house for ladies of diminished means. You can also take a tour of the Salk Institute conducted by this wonderful lady. But the place you'll find Ruth most is watching over her son, his wife, and their new baby boy, John DeVault Read, Jr. When asked what part of her life she would like to live over, she immediately responded, her forties. Ruth LeMay (DeVault) Read's reason was simple: "They were fun!"
Written by Abigail Read, 7th grade, age 13.
OBITUARY:
Ruth D. Read of La Jolla died peacefully in her home. She was predeceased by her husband O.H.
(Bud) Read with whom she shared 54 years of a loving and mutually supportive marriage. She nurtured and is survived by her son John D. Read of San Diego, her daughter Missy Read Vanderbilt of Dallas, four grandchildren, and a treasured great-grandbaby. Ruth was a former President of the Social Service League of La Jolla, involved in several arts groups, and was a docent at the Salk Institute. She was an Associate Vice President of Coldwell Banker in La Jolla.
Donations in her memory may be made to the Endowment Fund of the Social Service League of La Jolla, PO Box 831, La Jolla, CA 92038.