Obituary: Ruth Elaine Hough

Beloved wife, mother, and grandmother, Ruth Elaine Hough passed away at her home in Woodinville, WA on September 28, 2021, surrounded by her loved ones. She was 76 years old.  Ruth was born in Indiana, Pennsylvania, to Verner and Virginia Haldin. She graduated from the Western Pennsylvania Hospital School in Nursing. While still in college in 1963, at a dance party, she met Gary Hough, an engineering student at Carnegie Mellon.  The two later married, and after graduating from college, they moved to Southern California. Ruth worked as a nurse for Philco Ford, before becoming a homemaker to care for her two children Michael and Jennifer. Ruth was an avid gardener, and past president of the Woodinville Garden Club. Ruth was always happiest working in her garden, and per her wishes, her ashes will be spread in her garden in the springtime to help her plants grow. As the proverb goes, “Old gardeners never die, they just go to seed.”Since 1987, Ruth had battled recurring breast cancer. She is survived by her husband Gary, brother John, daughter Jennifer, son Michael, and granddaughter Nevada. She will be deeply missed.A celebration of Ruth’s life will be held at a later date. Friends and family are welcome to attend, with details to follow soon. Donations in lieu of flowers may be made online at https://secure.seattlecca.org or sent to Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, PO Box 24385, Seattle, WA 98124-0385. Checks may be made payable to SCCA with indication that they are in memory of Ruth Hough.  Your donation is greatly appreciated.