Elizabeth Ruby Vogdes

April 10, 1940 – September 13, 2010

      Elizabeth “Betty” Ruby Vogdes died on September 13 in Bremerton, WA, following a long and courageous struggle. She was 70 years of age.

      Betty was born on April 10, 1940, in Philadelphia, PA. She was the first child of John and Helen Ruby, of Horsham, PA. Betty attended Hatboro Horsham High School, where she met and began dating her future husband, Walter. Both graduated from HHHS in 1958, and married in 1962 following his graduation from college.

      Betty settled with her husband in Rockville, MD as he began a career with IBM. As a result of job transfers, the couple subsequently lived in Mendham, NJ; Sherborn, MA; Gaithersburg, MD; Portsmouth, England; and Lutz, FL; before retiring to Bainbridge Island, WA. Before starting a family, and then again years later, Betty worked as a secretary at a number of small firms.

      Betty was a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother, and had dear friends across the United States. Throughout her life Betty was involved in community and church-based volunteer work, including flower committees, garden clubs, altar guilds, and knitting groups. She was a Brownie and Girl Scout leader, a church secretary, and a volunteer for the Humane Society. Her life-long interests included homemaking, cooking, knitting, gardening, antiquing, and traveling.

      Betty is survived by her husband of 48 years, Walter Vogdes; daughter Jennifer Lange (John); and grandsons Nathaniel and Calder Lange, all of Bainbridge Island, WA; and her brother John Ruby (Marlene) of Quakertown, PA.

      A memorial service will be held at Grace Episcopal Church, Bainbridge Island, WA, on October 3rd at 3PM. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the V Foundation for Cancer Research, Grace Church of Bainbridge Island, or Hospice of Kitsap County (WA).

TRIBUTE Paid Notice