Not an ancestor but my best friend who died at age 15. I have written about her before so I will not cover it again other than to say she died much too young and I still miss her. If you want to read the story you can find it at Death of a Friend.
We met in 1953 when we moved into the new neighborhood in La Puente, California. We were three and my brother was a year old. From the moment we met, we were best friends. We were never apart except for sleeping. Ruth was the adventurous one and if we got in trouble, it was probably something she instigated. We went to grade school together and Junior High. Her family moved to South Gate when we started high school. Our parents used to take us back and forth so we still spent time together.
The houses were really new in this picture. There are no fences or grass.
I suppose by this time her parents are gone but she had two sisters, Patty and Dorothy and two younger brothers. I don't know what happened to them after her death but I wanted to share these pictures in case they are out there to find them.
Ruth Linda Wadley was born on February 3, 1949 in Los Angeles, California and died on April 24, 1965. She was buried at Rose Hills Memorial Park in Whittier, CA.
What a powerful, loving, heartfelt tribute. I clicked over to read "Death of a Friend" and was moved to tears. Beautifully written. I had exactly the same kind of joined-at-the-hip friendship that went back almost to birth (our stories are eerily similar--I even have a picture of my friend and me wearing those same dresses). I can't being to imagine what it must have been like, losing her at 15. It would have been beyond unendurable. My heart is with you as you remember Ruthie with the same love you had for her all those years ago.
ReplyDeleteI have pictures of us wearing the same dresses too. There is something unique about that kind of friendship that defies time. Ruth may be gone but she is never forgotten.
DeleteI remember having an 'inseparable' friend in grade school and we're still friends on FB. Hope you find her siblings. Nice tribute.
ReplyDeleteI just read the link. That is so sad. So young. It must have been horrible for you.
ReplyDeleteOnly 15! That must have been awful for her family and for you. Can never forget someone who was so special to you.
ReplyDeleteMaui Jungalow
Ann, quite touching. I read the story of her in the hospital too. We never know when it's our time.
ReplyDeleteJust thought I stop in through the A to Z. I'm your newest follower, and it's nice to 'meet' you. I like your blog. Beautiful tribute and very touching.
ReplyDeleteDeb@ http://debioneille.blogspot.com
Ruth is light and joy. Thank you for sharing Ruth's and your friendship with us. :-)
ReplyDeleteThe View from the Top of the Ladder