Ruth Doris Foss

Ruth Doris (Bradley) Foss, age 89, of Daphne, Alabama passed into glory on June 1, 2021 following an extended illness.

She was born on April 28, 1932 to John Bradley and Clara (Gross) Bradley in Fremont, Michigan. On New Year’s Eve, 1949, Ruth met Raymond Foss when her date asked Ray to drive them to Fremont. Two weeks later, Ruth called Ray to ask whether he wanted to date one of her friends. When he said no to each person she suggested, she asked, “Well, how about me?”  In April 1951, Ruth married Ray.

Ruth is survived by her husband, Raymond Foss; daughters:  Linda Foss (Mark) Arnold, Diana Foss (Daniel) Rinzema, and Melissa Foss (Daniel) Hanby; daughter-in-law, Susan Earl Foss; daughter-in-heart, Carol Zimmerman; 9 grandchildren:  Stephanie, Michael, Joseph, Matthew, Thomas, Kimberly, Daniel, Blake, and Mackenzie; and 17 great grandchildren.

Ruth was preceded in death by her son, Larry Foss, her first granddaughter, Amie Foss, her parents, John and Clara Bradley, and her siblings: Floyd Bradley, Virgil Bradley, Roy Bradley, and Inez Keys.

Ruth was a devoted wife.  She and Ray celebrated many milestone anniversaries with family where Ray wrote and read love poems, letters, and stories explaining what an amazing wife and mother she was.  In April, they celebrated their 70th Wedding Anniversary with a card shower where friends and family shared their love and memories of how Ruth and Ray have impacted their lives.

Ruth was a loving mother who was always available with a listening ear and open arms for her children. She adored her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren and spent many hours playing games, reading stories, and making them feel loved.

Ruth worked for many years in the Gerber Baby Food factory.

She was well known for hosting the best family reunions where many wonderful memories were made by all who attended.  Aunt Ruth’s house was the place where all the nieces, nephews, and cousins loved to visit because she was so fun and loving.

Ruth’s house and heart were always open to help. When her teenage daughter became a foreign exchange student, the family reciprocated by taking a foreign exchange student into their home for an entire year. Another exchange student suddenly became in need of a different family and Ruth immediately accepted yet another teenager into their home. Ruth was pregnant with child #4 at the time.

In preparing this tribute, mountains of photographs were combed through for display. When the family realized there were few pictures of Ruth, they remembered she was always the photographer, never the subject. That is until she got a video camera. “From then on, no one saw her face,” Ray says. But there are plenty of cherished movies that show the faces of the people she loved most.

Ruth enjoyed people and having a good time. She loved to talk and that made her a great volunteer at church, school, and in her community. Ruth and Ray were very involved in the Fremont Church of Christ. She was a proud member of the Lake Forest Garden Club, the Lake Forest Women’s Club, and Welcome Wagon.  Her love for people helped her to make lasting friendships wherever she went.

Before she died, she requested there be no funeral. In lieu of flowers, the family requests any donations be made to her favorite charities, the American Heart Association and St. Jude’s Hospital.

Ruth left a lasting impression on all who knew and loved her. Her enjoyment of life, sense of humor, and deep love for her family will be greatly missed.