Ruth A. McHenry, Aug. 30, 1925-Oct. 6, 2022. Born in Masterton New Zealand, Ruth was preceded in death by her parents John William Andrews and Margaret Andrews, her brother Latham Andrews, three husbands, a stepson, son-in-law, grandson and numerous friends and relatives.=

At age two, Ruth moved with her family to Lower Hutt near Wellington, New Zealand, where her father founded a joinery factory and served as mayor for 14 years. She graduated from Hutt Valley High and worked for a bit in a physics lab there during the war. She came as a war bride to the United States and began raising four children, all born by the time she was 24, in San Jose. For a while she additionally took on the care of two children belonging to friends, so there were six kids under six in the household. She was a Brownie and Girl Scout leader, a Cub Scout den mother, and a Sunday school teacher. She cheered her sons on in wrestling matches and transported her kids and others to and from various activities. She loved camping and trips to the beach, singing while washing dishes with her youngest daughter, and she poured merthiolate over the wounds acquired during the adventures of her mischievous kids — Susan, John, Stan and Kathleen; later she could be found picking berries, reading, kayaking and playing in the ocean with grandkids and at least one great-grandchild.

Over her many working years — which began, following divorce, with cleaning houses and ironing for others — she designed knitting patterns and instructed others in the art of knitting; and she worked in sales at the Stanford Emporium in Palo Alto and Dillards in Tempe. On the side, she participated in and taught Scottish country dancing. And she drove and delivered for Meals on Wheels. She took college classes in her 50s and 60s, married Bill McHenry in her 70s and enjoyed so many adventures with him—including another trip to New Zealand.

Her parents came to the US from New Zealand when her kids were young and she took her kids and some of her grandkids to her native land. She hiked the Milford Track there with her son, John, when she was in her 70’s, and she attended Hutt Valley High’s 75th Jubilee in 2001. She also traveled to England with Bill for a reunion of WWII veterans; and in her 80’s traveled to Poland for the wedding of her daughter-in-spirit, Jola Drzewiecka.

In Tempe, where she lived for many years before coming back to California, she was very active in the University Presbyterian Church, serving on the Board of Deacons and volunteering with their Family Promise Program. She worked there at the community-backed Paz de Cristo with others in her church, cooking for and feeding hungry neighbors in need.

When she moved to McKinleyville at age 90, to be near family, she became a member of the Grace Good Shepherd Church and served on their Board of Deacons 5 ½ years. She also worked with The Gathering, sponsored by The Church of the Joyful Healer, making a variety of soups from scratch to support their weekly efforts on behalf of the unhoused. She continued to make the soups every week even after she could not physically attend during the early throes of COVID. Her soups were delivered weekly by her son John until not too long ago when her stamina finally waned. Her spirit, though, remains with all these people, supporters and supported alike.

Ruth is beloved by and survived by four children, five stepchildren, twelve grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren, all of whom are blessed to have been loved by and connected to each other through her. Her family is very grateful to Frye’s Care Home and Hospice; and to Adrianna and Vickie for their special love and care. In lieu of flowers or other gifts, please consider supporting an organization that supports your neighbors in need.