Ruth Byers Fleming, 86, passed away at her home in Huntington Beach on November 29, 2016, after a brief illness. She was born in Carthage, Illinois on December 10, 1929, the second of three daughters born to Benton Bernard Byers and Lois Barnett Byers. Ruth's family eventually moved to the Chicago suburb of Oak Lawn, Illinois, where Ruth graduated from Blue Island High School in 1947.

In the summer of 1952, Ruth moved to California with a couple of girlfriends who had teaching jobs already lined up in Long Beach. Ruth didn't have a job lined up but decided to join her friends on the trip to see what California had to offer. Upon relocating to California, Ruth joined the First Methodist Church in downtown Long Beach. She met her future husband, John, in the church's young adult group just three months after arriving in Long Beach. At the time, John had just relocated to Long Beach from his home town of Storm Lake, Iowa. Many marriages resulted between members of that young adult group and Ruth and her future husband made lifelong friends. Together with those friends, they formed "The Couples Club" and continued to meet on a monthly basis for the next 62 years.

Ruth and John married in Long Beach, California on February 13, 1954. It poured down rain that day, but Ruth always said that rain on your wedding day was good luck for your marriage. Ruth and John lived in Long Beach for a few years after they were married. Their daughter, Kathy Jo, was born in 1957, and their son, Douglas John, arrived in 1962. The family moved to Huntington Beach in 1965 where they became life-long members of the Community United Methodist Church.

Ruth was a working mom, spending many years working as a secretary in the Ocean View School District (at Mesa View Elementary School), and in the Huntington Beach Union High School District (at Marina High School and at Ocean View High School). While her children were in school, she was active in their school activities and volunteered as a Girl Scout troop leader.

Ruth retired in June of 1987, and John retired the following spring. As retirees, they continued to enjoy spending time with their family and traveling together and with friends. Their traveling adventures included trips to the East Coast, The Alamo, down the Mississippi River on a riverboat cruise, Russia, Scandinavia, Italy and other parts of Europe. After retirement, Ruth also became an active volunteer with her local PEO chapter, and with Huntington Beach Assistance League where she served two year term as president.

Ruth was preceded in death by her parents; her older sister, Mary Byers Stevens; her brother-in-law, John Stevens; and her younger sister, Martha Byers, who passed away in infancy.

Ruth is survived by her devoted husband of 62 years, John; her children Kathy Fleming and Doug (Terri) Fleming; her grandchildren Hailee Repko (Jake) and Matthew Fleming; her great-granddaughters Harper and Hudson Repko; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins. She will be remembered as a kind and loving wife, mother, grandmother, and friend.

Ruth will be laid to rest in a private service to be held at El Toro Memorial Park on December 5, 2016. A public celebration of her life will be held at the Community United Methodist Church in Huntington Beach on January 8, 2017. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Huntington Beach Assistance League or the charitable organization of your choice.

Share A Memory
Please join us in remembering Ruth. Through this site, we invite you to share your thoughts and fond memories with our family.