Barbara Ruff

Long time Whittier resident Barbara "Babs" Ruff passed away November 10, 2022 at age 101, just one month shy of her 102nd birthday. Babs and her twin sister Betty were born December 27, 1920 in Salt Lake City, Utah, to Herbert Roy Utech and Bertha Yount Utech. When Babs was very young, the family moved to Los Angeles County where they remained. Babs married Robert "Bob" Ruff in 1942 and together they had five children. They moved to Whittier in 1950. Bob became a well-known square dance caller and educator which allowed the family with Babs' help and support, to travel extensively to square dance groups throughout the United States and Canada during the 1950's and sixties. Babs had many passions in life, among those were reading, especially Westerns, writing and following her younger son's career in entertainment. With her son providing the music and encouragement she took pride in having written some songs, the recording of which entitled her to become a member of ASCAP. Her books of poetry were well-received. Babs was predeceased by her husband of 51 years, her parents, her sisters Nedra Utech and Betty Ross, her brother Herbert Utech and her daughter Barbara Rishel. She...[more]

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survived by her daughters Janice (Harold) Nikoghosian and Carol (Ronald) Shaw, and her sons Bill (Julie) and Jeffrey (aka Cody Bryant). She is also survived by six grandchildren, Jennifer (Michael) Page, Matthew (Peggy) Shaw, Sarah (Abel) Kelley, Sandra Poisson, Kate (Mike) Pauli, and Travis Ruff, and five great grandchildren, Sophia Page, Ayden Kelley, Cienna Kelley, Kylee Kelley, and Clara Shaw.