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BEBBER -- Ruth E. Bebber. PhD, 87, of Albuquerque, NM, and Ashland, OR, died Tuesday, April 15, 2008, at the Alzheimer's Care Facility at the Cottages of Albuquerque. Ruth was born in Albuquerque, NM, in 1921. She graduated from Albuquerque High School in 1938 and received her bachelor's degree in Social Studies from the University of New Mexico in 1942. During World War II, Ruth was the only woman in a squadron of aviation mechanics in Gainesville, Georgia. In the evenings, she played trombone in the Navy Band.After the war, she earned a Master's Degree and a Doctorate of Philosophy in Health and Education in 1956 at University of Southern California. Dr. Bebber taught in the Albuquerque and San Bernardino, California, Public School systems as a physical education instructor. She joined the faculty at Southern Oregon College (now University) in 1954 and was head of the physical education department when she retired in 1986. She was the first exchange teacher from SOU to Dankook University in Seoul, South Korea. There she taught American Folk Dance and helped bring American culture to many South Koreans. At Southern Oregon University, Dr. Bebber was considered a Master teacher and was responsible for hundreds of student teachers who learned to love their chosen profession as she did.She was passionate about swimming and was the coach for the womens' swim team at Southern Oregon University for many years. She also taught swimming for the American Red Cross, the Youth Aquatic School and Elderhostel for decades.She was the president of many organizations, including, the UNM chapter of Alpha Chi Omega from 1941 to 1942; the SOU chapter of Phi Kappa Phi, the Jackson County Chapter of the American Association of University Women, and the state president of the Oregon Chapter of Business and Professional Women. She enjoyed music, gardening, and dance. She traveled extensively throughout the world: touring, dancing, hiking and backpacking. She was an extraordinary cook and donated over 2500 cookbooks to the Culinary Arts department at Central New Mexico Community College. She was a member of our Lady of the Mountain Catholic Church in Ashland Oregon. Dr. Bebber was preceded in death by her parents, Dr. Chester Bebber and Henrietta Weiser Bebber, and her brothers, Chester F. Bebber of Denver, Colorado, and William T. Bebber of Chico, California. She is survived by her sisters, Henrietta Bebber Loy and Marilyn Bebber Sheppard, of Albuquerque, and by Delores Weimer Bebber, of Denver, and by Jacqueline Woods Bebber, of Chico, California; and by her many nieces and nephews, and their children; and by her beloved dog, Babe. A Mass of Celebration will be held on Tuesday, May 6, at 11:30 a.m. at the Church of the Risen Savior, 7701 Wyoming Blvd NE. Call Laura Dennison, her niece, for more information, 505-417-6616. Our sincere thanks to the nurses and staff of the Alzheimer's Care Facility at the Cottages of Albuquerque, and to Ambercare Hospice who provided her so much comfort. The family asks that no flowers be sent, instead please send a donation in Ruth Bebber's memory to the Southern Oregon University Foundation in support of student scholarships. Southern Oregon University, 1250 Siskiyou Blvd., Ashland, OR 97520. Or if you like to cook, send a cookbook (or several) in her name to Central New Mexico Community College, Main Campus Library, Culinary Arts, 525 Buena Vista Dr. SE, Albuquerque, NM 87106
        Published on: Sun May 04, 2008