Ruth Lillian O’Malley

Longtime Bainbridge resident Ruth Lillian O’Malley, 74, died March 2 on the island. She suffered from Alzheimer’s and complications to Post-Polio Disorder.

She was born July 31, 1930 on Bainbridge Island to Peder and Marie (Monsaas) Olausen.

She graduated from Bainbridge High School in 1948, and married James P. O’Malley on Dec. 30, 1949.

While working as a homemaker and raising four sons, she worked as a seamstress at Messenger House Care Center for over 32 years, until her retirement in 2001.

She was devout member of Port Madison Lutheran Church, and was active in Lutheran World Relief. She enjoyed quilting, crocheting, reading romance novels and listening to country music. In her later years, she tried her hand at poetry.

She is survived by sons Steven (Margaret) O’Malley of Silverdale, James C. (Troy) O’Malley of Redmond, David (Patricia) O’Malley of Poulsbo, and Thomas O’Malley of Bainbridge Island; brother Olaf (Eleanor) Olausen of Mount Vernon; sister Gerd Saunders of Issaquah; and six grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

She was preceded in death by a brother, Magnus Olausen.

A memorial service will be held at 10:30 a.m. April 9 at Port Madison Lutheran Church on Bainbridge Island. In lieu of flowers, remembrances can be made to Port Madison Lutheran Church, Alzheimer’s research, or Post-Polio Disorder research.