Obituary for
Ruth Victoria Poelstra
Ruth Victoria Poelstra
Nov. 30, 1915 - Mar. 18, 2017
Ruth Victoria Poelstra, 101, entered the Presence of her dear Savior and Lord Jesus on March 18, 2017. In recent years she would often assert, "The best is yet to come!" Her focus remained steadily on God's grace to lead her Home. On Nov. 30, 1915 in Oakland she became the firstborn of Victor and Esther Eastburg of Swedish descent. When she was a toddler, her family established a farm in Ripon, where her oldest brother and wife still reside. After studies at Stockton College of Commerce, she worked as a legal secretary for the law firm, Darrah & Ellis. By 1938 she and John, a Ripon boy she met as a youngster, exchanged engagement rings and were married in Feb. 1939. In the ensuing years she embraced the roles of wife, homemaker and mother to 4 children. The family activities centered at their church. During her 78 years there, she was church secretary, taught a young marrieds' class, set up a library, and counseled those in need. As a mentor, she led home Bible studies for women. Family and friends depended on her faithful prayers. Her hands were never idle: cooking, sewing, knitting, e-mailing, oil painting, and writing her memoirs, "Dancing in My Slippers". Even this year she continued her service of crocheting hundreds of scarves for the homeless, praying for each one who would receive them from local shelters. She and John travelled throughout the U.S., visiting family and enjoying each new grandchild. In the last 2 years as a resident of The Commons on Thornton, she was content listening to Christian radio, attending Bible study and sharing her wit and loving encouragement.
She was preceded in death by her husband, John, of 76 years, and her sister, Doris. She is survived by her brother Les (Margaret) Eastburg of Ripon, CA; her brother, Paul Eastburg (late wife, Jean) of Cherry Hill, NJ; 4 children: Paul (Joanne) Poelstra of Portland, OR; Larry (Linda) Poelstra of Highlands Ranch, CO; Marilyn (late husband, Brent) Wallace of Hayden, ID; and Jim (Debbie) Poelstra of Stockton, CA; 12 grandchildren and 2 great-grands. A Memorial Service will take place on Sat., April 1, at 2 pm at Stockton Covenant Church, 1720 Oxford Way, Stockton. In lieu of flowers, she has requested donations be given
to The Gideons International, Processing Center, P.O. Box 97251, Washington, DC 20090-7251.
Religious Service Information
Stockton Covenant Church
1720 Oxford Way
Stockton, CA 95204
