Ruth Young

ELK GROVE, CA. -- Ruth Lillie Mae Smith Young was born June 17, 1931, in Delta and left us peacefully Sept. 9, 2019, in Elk Grove.

The daughter of Guy and Ella Smith, who preceded in death. Ruth was raised with a sister, Betty J. Haupt of Elk Grove (preceded in death). Ruth was a longtime resident of Elk Grove.

Ruth had a long and productive life working. In 1950, Ruth graduated Delta High School. Ruth went on to study and graduate from Cosmetology College and began her working career as a cosmetologist in Illinois and Missouri.

On May 10, 1952, Ruth married Van D. Young, who preceded her in death, and was a wife for 65 years. In 1956, Van and Ruth moved to Sacramento, California, from Missouri to make a new life for themselves and have a family. Ruth started her next career with Pacific Bell Telephone Co. in Sacramento, for many years. Ruth was a stay-at-home mom and then decided to return to the workplace and worked and retired from Elk Grove Unified School District as a food service manager at Joseph Kerr Junior High School. She took cake-decorating lessons and started her own specialty cake-decorating business, started into a home skincare/cosmetic business as a JAFRA skin care and beauty consultant and still loved being a full-time mother and wife.

She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt and a good friend to all who knew her.

She is survived by her son, Gary W. Young, retired U.S. Army lieutenant colonel, of Galt, California; daughter, Jill R. Young and husband, Thomas K. Whitson, of Galt; grandchildren, Ashley M. Young of Galt and Christopher J. Young, Army veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom, and fiancee, Aislynn E. Adams-Taylor of Folsom, California; and nephew, Donald N. Young of Washington D.C.

She was a caring person who touched many people's lives and she had an endless devotion to her family; her kindness will always be in our hearts and in our memories. Ruth will be laid to rest in Dixon, California. A memorial service will take place at 11 a.m. Dec. 12 at Sacramento Valley National Cemetery, 5810 Midway Road in Dixon. There will be a celebration of life for Ruth directly following the memorial services at 8717 O'Connell Court in Elk Grove.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Veterans of Foreign Wars or Disabled American Veterans.