Ruth Shy Wilson

Whenever you give – you get back. Ruth Shy Wilson passed away on January 8, 2014 surrounded by family & members of the Clergy as she joined her Lord and Savior with dignity and grace. A friend expressed: ""the Angels were rejoicing when she entered eternal life!"" She had open heart surgery on December 16, 2013 and experienced a number of complications that she was unable to overcome. Ruth Shy Wilson was born in southeast Iowa to a Quaker family on October 3, 1929. She was one of ten children, one of whom is her twin brother, Roy. She cherished her memories of ""stellar parents and dear siblings who shared little in worldly goods…but oh, so much in an abundance of love."" When Ruth was 11 years old, she contracted rheumatic fever. Her older sister, Edie, brought her to Denver to see a doctor and to care for her. The doctor told Edie that Ruth was so sick that she could have died en route. During recovery she had to learn to walk again. Following treatment and recovery, Ruth remained forever grateful to Edie and to God for saving her life and lived her life lovingly giving back to all with whom she came in contact. After graduation from high school in Iowa in 1948, Ruth moved to Denver to join her older sisters and to work with them at Strauss Fancy Food and Gift store. Her sister Wilma joined her and they shared an apartment. It was during her time with her sister, Edie, that Ruth learned about Catholicism from Edie's husband, Ralph. She attended classes with the Jesuits at Regis College (now Regis University) where she received her bachelor degree and was one of the first female graduates. In 1955, Ruth felt a calling and made the decision to become a Sister of St. Joseph of Carondelet. She served in various teaching assignments in schools located in Kansas City, Englewood, and Littleton, Colorado for the next 15 years. She was known as Sister Mary Raphaline and later, Sister Mary Ruth. It was during the early 70's that Ruth decided to leave the community and start a new chapter in her life. She settled in California where she received her master's of arts degree at the University of San Diego. It was also there in 1977 that she met the man who would become the love of her life: Retired Commander Clarence Wilson. Clarence Wilson was an aerospace engineer who worked on the early Apollo missions. A widower, he had just returned from the Peace Corps in Africa when they met on a blind date in California. Ruth fell in love with Clarence and they married, enjoying every day of their life together for 29 years until his death in 2007. The Wilsons cherished their time together farming, traveling, hosting foreign teachers and students, volunteering, participating in local politics and playing tennis. In 2008 Ruth moved back to Colorado where three of her sisters still lived as well as numerous nieces and nephews. She said she traded the ocean for the Rockies and never regretted it for a moment! Always deeply spiritual, a few years later in Denver Ruth made her commitment to become an Associate of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet. She also became very active in the University Hills Rotary club finding its activities related to education, polio eradication, micro credit lending efforts, world peace and more to be near and dear to her heart. Unconditional Love and Generosity are the words that best describe this gentle, powerful and wonderful woman. Throughout her life and in her death Ruth's generous spirit has made, and will continue to make, a difference to not only those who knew and loved her, but also to thousands who will never know her but will benefit from her generous gifts and legacy. Ruth is survived by her older sister, Edith Archer of Highlands Ranch, Colorado and her twin brother, Roy Shy of Escondido, California, as well as her husband's beloved children Robert Wilson and Margo Wilson, and more than 100 nieces and nephews of multiple generations. ""It's not what you gather in life, but what you scatter in life, that tells the kind of life you've lived and the kind of person you are."" -Helen Robson Walton A Memorial Mass and Joyful Celebration of her life will be held at 1:30 pm on Saturday, February 8, 2014 at the Vi at Highlands Ranch, 2850 Classic Drive, Highlands Ranch, CO 80126. Since guest parking at the Vi is very limited, those attending the celebration of Ruth's life are requested to park in the north end of the parking lot of St. Andrew United Methodist Church, 9203 S. University Blvd., Highlands Ranch, CO. Shuttles will take you to the Vi. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to: Sacred Heart Retreat House, P.O. Box 185, Sedalia, CO 80135 and University Hills Rotary Foundation for the Ruth Wilson Scholarship Fund, c/o Laura Nichols, 8300 Fairmount Dr., #P-101, Denver, CO 80247 Please share your memories of Ruth and condolences with her family by signing the guestbook.