Ruth Elaine Dobson

Ruth E. Dobson, 78, Hill City, Kansas, passed away Monday, August 14 at her home in Hill City, Kansas. Ruth was born June 23, 1939 in Nicodemus, Kansas, the daughter of Earl A. and Bernice M. (Cannon) Jones. She spent her childhood in Kansas. She attended Fairview Elementary School; junior high school at rural Harland School southwest of Bogue, Kansas. Ruth was in band, pep band, the Girls Glee Club and Future Business Leaders. Ruthie, as she was called, was just a driving force in school. She was an A student. She was both a serious student and a part of all the extracurricular activities as well! She had a great curiosity and love for life, and she was always willing to help others. She also was a 4-H member throughout her school years. She attended and graduated from Hill City Memorial High School. She attended Nicodemus AME Church in Nicodemus, Kansas and the Nicodemus Missionary Baptist church later on. She gave birth to a beautiful baby girl named Cynthia Daye Napue and shortly after moved to Denver, Colorado. The farm girl married a farm boy that she had known since the age of six years old. She was married to Ross A. Alexander in Denver, Colorado, August 21, L958 they later divorced. To that union two children were born: Debra Elaine Alexander and Julie Ann Alexander. Ruth moved to Sacramento, California. Later she moved to San Francisco. She married Bill Reese in 1976 and it was annulled. She married attorney William D. Dobson in Silver City, Nevada, on Aug 13, 1978. They enjoyed nearly 30 years of marriage until his death 2008. Ruth attended and graduated from Sacramento, City College, Sacramento, California, major-business; Mission Jr. College, Santa Clara, California, major - geriatrics; Stratford Career Institute, Champlain, New York, major - legal assistant/paralegal. Ruth held many positions throughout her work life. She worked for the Colorado State Department as an lntermediate Clerk Typist; the U.S. Federal General Service Administration, Sacto., California, as a personnel clerk; the U.S. Federal Government PBS in GSA as a Procurement Clerk; the U.5 Federal Government, PBS Buildings Management Division in San Francisco as Procurement Buildings Manager for the West Coast, the U.S Federal Government, PBS Space Management Division, San Francisco; Small Business owner, Ruthie’s Fashions Dress Shop, San Jose; Dobson Law office as Legal Assistant, San Jose; Alexander's Retirement Home for the Aged, Los Gatos, California. as Administrator/Owner; Brown’s Board and Care Home for the Aged, Galt, California, Administrator/Manager; Dobson Golden Age Care Home For The Aged, Galt, Administrator/owner. Ruth had extensive experience in government buildings management and was a realty specialist. She was a negotiator from all phases of leasing, purchasing, to consultation and alterations. She was accomplished in overseeing maintenance, construction and services for L4 Government buildings. Her background extended to include notable experience in all phases of personnel relations and public relations. She was an administrator and owner of Residential Care Homes for the Elderly; and was very instrumental in rewriting new laws in California that set precedence throughout the nation regarding assisted living care homes for the elderly. Ruth was extremely active in various organizations. She belonged to VFW Ladies Auxiliary, Democratic National Committee, a member of DCCC in Washington, D.C., a member of Southern Poverty Law Center, an NAACP supporter and the Nicodemus Historical Society. In her spare time she enjoyed fishing, horseback riding, piano, reading, table card games, and ballroom dancing. And she loved socializing with her family and friends. She appreciated all kinds of music, but her favorites were classical, gospel, big band, jazz, and country and western. And, most of the time, she was the life of the party. Ruth will be remembered for her great sense of humor. She loved witty conversations. She was a Joan Rivers, Elizabeth Taylor, Bette Davis, and Zsa Zsa Gabor type of person all wrapped up all in one. Ruth was full of life. She demonstrated swagger before the word swag was popular, and oh, what classy dresser! Ruth was preceded in death by her parents; six brothers: Dewayne Jones, Earl S. Jones, Merle Jones, Chauncey Jones, Lester Jones and Eugene Jones; and four sisters: Vera Williams, Bernita Switzer, Evelyn Jones, and Mary Ann Jones. Survivors left to cherish her memory are her sisters Lorraine Brown and Betty Scroggins-Chambers, both of Sacramento; her daughters: Cynthia Napue, Sacramento; Julie (Jacques) LeHouillier, Manteca, California, and Debra Alexander-Wilson, Hill City; stepson, Rick Dobson, Sacramento; stepdaughter, Rheanette Dobson-Lee, Victoria, California; nine grandchildren and 17 great grandchildren.