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Ruth Pendley, beloved mother and friend, died April 15, 2006 from unexpected complications arising from pulmonary disease and infection. Ruth was born in Los Angeles on October 20, 1935 to Arnold and Louise Bradford. She later moved to Long Beach, CA where she graduated from Polytechnic High School and married William Pendley in 1952. She gave birth to two children - Michael and Ann. She and Louise moved to Albuquerque in 1993 to be closer to her son and his family. Her home was the gathering place for many family events. Ruth was an independent, hard-working person her whole life. She ran a diner and worked in an industrial shipping center, but was best known for her ability to manage a large area of drive-in theatres in southern California. She managed staff and coordinated theater openings which were attended by movie stars such as Troy Donahue, Rudy Valley, Buddy Hackett, and Raquel Welch. Even though she worked through her children's school years, she was highly involved with the PTA (President), Cub Scouts (Den Mother), and school events. Macular degeneration forced Ruth to retire from the traditional work force. However, her limited sight never stopped her from continuing with her passion for crosswords, old-time radio, talking books, game shows, bingo, computers, and even astronomy. She was proud to be the most active legally-blind astronomer in The Albuquerque Astronomical Society where she fabricated her own telescope and supported public education. She liked to sing, listen to musicals, collect things such as trains, square dance, watch sports, do research on the internet, and learn new technology. She kept herself busy working at a local fast-food chain, where she met with friends and family to laugh and converse. She always loved an opportunity to tell a joke or story or to participate in intellectual banter - even with a complete stranger. She was proud of the accomplishments of her family and friends and was ready and willing to help others in any way she could. In recent years, she took care of her 90+ year-old mother and their Chihuahuas. She was preceded in death by her father, Arnold, April 1946; husband, William, December 1984; sister, Millie, August 2004; and mother, Louise, December 2005. She is survived by her daughter, Ann; son, Michael; daughter-in-law, Debbie; grandson, John; and grandson, Steve. Ruth was a loving friend, mother, daughter, and sister. She will be severely missed by those she touched. Please join her family at a Memorial Service on Saturday, April 29, 2006 at St. Mary's Episcopal Church, 1500 Chelwood Park, at 10:00 a.m. - reception to follow. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the New Mexico Commission for the Blind or the Humane Society of Albuquerque.
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