JONES, HILL, WALSH

Posted by Cathy Gowdy on Saturday, November 15, 2008 at 04:30:48 :

Independent Journal
Thursday, June 6, 1980

RUTH MURRAY JONES

Ruth Murray Jones, longtime San Rafael resident and poet, died Wednesday at her home after a short illness. She was 85.

Mrs. Jones was a prolific poet who had been published and earned prizes throughout the world.

She was the widow of Victor W. Jones, a teacher and coach at San Rafael High School for many years. He died in 1962.

Mrs. Jones was born at Bodega in Sonoma County and attended schools in California and Nevada. She earned a bachelor’s degree at the University of Nevada.

She taught in Tonopah after graduation and met and married Jones there. In 1924 they came to San Rafael, where Mrs. Jones had lived since.

She had written poetry as a hobby while young but during World War II, when her son, Deane, was killed, she first began to write seriously as an outlet for grief.

Her first published poem appeared in a small booklet, “The Bard.” In 1956 she won the Coolbrith Poetry Day Contest and also won other prizes in contests. Her verse frequently appeared in the Independent-Journal’s “Poet’s Corner” in the 1950s and 1960s.

Mrs. Jones was a charter member and past president of the Marin Chapter of the American Association of University Women and for many years participated in the chapter’s creative writing workshop.

She also was a member of the Ina Coolbrith Circle, American Gold Star Mothers, California Federation of Chaparral Poets, National Retired Teachers Association, Speech Arts Association of California, Audubon Society and the American Pen Women.

Surviving are two daughters, Dorothea Hill of Ignacio and Ruth Helen Walsh of Santa Clara; and six grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.

The funeral will be p rivate. The family prefers memorial contributions to a favorite charity.