Sally Sutherland Ruddy
November 3, 1930 ~ January 30, 2025

Sally Ruddy passed away on January 30, 2025, at the age of 94. Sally will be remembered as many things: a loving wife of more than 70 years, a devoted mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, a generous and caring friend, and a caregiver to many who were fortunate enough to cross her path.

Sally was born on November 3, 1930, in Montevideo, Minnesota, the only child of Violet Hildebrandt and Ronald Sutherland. Sally graduated high school in January 1948 and enrolled in the University of Buffalo. It was there, months later, in July of 1948, in Chemistry 101, that she would meet the love of her life, Richard "Dick" Ruddy.

On December 27, 1951 (their first wedding anniversary), the first of their four children was born. At the time, Dick was flying combat missions in the Korean War, leaving Sally to navigate the birth and early months of parenthood on her own, something that would become a theme with the births of each of the couple's first three children.

During Dick's 20-year military career, Sally stayed home, raised the children, and attempted to maintain some stability in their lives. She raised strong, independent, resilient children with a foundation of kindness and respect, all of whose accomplishments she took incredible pride in. In 1970, Sally began volunteering at the Travis airbase hospital, giving back in a multitude of ways over the next 30 years.

In June 1980, they moved to Leisure Town in Vacaville, California, finally settling into their forever home, where they would remain for the final 45 years of their lives. Within Leisure Town, Sally and Dick joined many clubs and served on a variety of boards and committees over the years. They were well-known and respected members of the community, who could often be seen on the lawn bowling green and were known for hosting spirited games of duplicate bridge.

Upon Dick's retirement, they traveled the world together, making plenty of new friends on 14 Grand Circle tours, six cruises, RV trips all across the U.S. and Canada, and annual trips to Hawaii to visit Sally's cousin Jean.
Sally and Dick also loved spending time with family and spent countless holidays and vacations with their children and grandchildren, including family reunions on a houseboat on Lake Shasta, a dude ranch in Durango, CO, a Caribbean Cruise, and countless other beloved family get-togethers.

Sally made it a point to be present for all the significant milestones in her children and grandchildren's lives, including birthdays, graduations, and weddings. She will be remembered most by her grandchildren for her keen sense of humor, her quick wit, and as a card shark, who never let them win a game of cribbage. She will be deeply missed by all of them, and the countless others whose lives she touched.

~

Celebrate My Life

Remember me with love and joy,
Let gratitude fill your heart.
Thankful for the time we had,
Gone... yet not apart.

If we measured life in moments,
Not in months or years,
I lived a hundred lifetimes,
Loved by all who hold me dear.

I hope you'll find your smile,
And generously speak my name.
Share stories and my heart,
Your love for life unchanged.
Celebrate the life I lived,
I will be watching from above.
I am always with you,
Sending you my light and love.

~