BEAVERTON, OREGON – Ruth Marie Dobratz, 93, passed away peacefully on October 8. She was born on March 27, 1928 in Beloit, Kansas, the daughter of Alexander and Barbara Blanche (Feser) Dobratz. She graduated from St. John’ s High School in Beloit in 1946. Active in high school, she had her senior piano recital. Sister Rosalita, her piano teacher, instilled a love of music in her and she played the piano into her nineties.
Ruth married William Shunk on September 17, 1947 and they moved to Oregon. She was a housewife and mother raising 3 children. Ruth was active as a Bluebird and 4-H leader, and was active in PTA.
Ruth started her working experience as a part-time fountain clerk at Groves Drug Store in high school. After graduation she did clerical work at Standard and Main Insurance in Denver and then at Seiberling Rubber Company in Portland. Following her divorce, she worked at The Army Corps of Engineers in 1979 as a clerk-typist until her retirement in 1993. Ruth lived a full life
Ruth lived a full life enjoying the piano, gardening, making jam and pies from fruit she had picked, playing cards and games, reading, and attending her grandchildren’ s dance recitals, plays, baseball, basketball and soccer games.
Ruth attended St. Cecilia Church and for many years she also went to daily mass. She took Pilgrimages to Saint Teresa’ s, Spain, Fatima, Portugal and Rome, Italy. She was President of “ The Young at Heart” senior club at St. Cecilia.
She is survived by her children, Barbara (Steve) Wascher of Seaside, Dave (Cherie) Shunk of Eugene, and Laurie (Paul) Pharr of Beaverton and 6 grandchildren, Jennifer Wascher of Seattle, Matt (Leah) Pharr of AZ, Mike (Dana) Pharr of Sherwood, OR, Andy (Penny) Pharr of Portland, Heather (Josh) Trowbridge of Eugene and Kevin (Ashley) Shunk of Utah. And 6 greatgrandchildren, Michelle and Chris Re, Ashton Trowbridge, Charlotte and August Shunk, and Griffin Pharr plus many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her 3 sisters and brother, Maurine, Elizabeth, Joan, and Robert.
The family extends our thanks for the wonderful care she received from the team at Providence Hospice and the staff at Edgewood Point Assisted Living.
Funeral mass was held on October 18, 2021 at 11:00 am at St Cecilia Catholic Church in Beaverton.
In lieu of flowers the family suggests donations to St. Cecilia Catholic Church or a charity of your choice.
