In Memory of Ruth

[Mac26Mpaul]

I also read and enjoyed a lot of your stuff. Ruth was obviously an amazing woman - so sorry for your loss.
No doubt she is somewhere good and wanting to see you living your life and still doing the things you both loved, like sailing.....

[Freedom77]

Sumner, Deepest sympathy on your loss. Have followed your posts for a long time. You and Ruth were an amazing couple. Can't say I know how you feel, but lost Penny my beloved first mate of 40 years five years ago. Fair winds and full sails, Old Salt...Woody

[Sumner]

I'd like to thank Russ for posting about my loss of Ruth and to everyone for their condolences. It means a lot to myself and to Ruth's children. I'll pass them on. Also I apologize for not posting on here. I'd been absent from here for some time as we had been working on the Endeavour for a couple years and had also returned to Land Speed Racing and I was getting stretched kind of thin. I would at this point like to post what I did post on the "Ask All Sailor Forum" where I had remained active to some degree...

It is with great sadness that I have to report that my "Ruth" passed away Saturday morning (8-30-14) after a couple months of declining health.

She was the best thing that ever happened to me in this life and although we weren't together for a great number of years the joy we had and what we had was immeasurable and I was oh so lucky to have her and the experiences and love we shared. She supported me in everything that was important to me and hopefully I take the good virtues she had and use them to make myself a better person in her honor.

She was almost 72 and I'm 70 and we had planned on growing old together but that is not to be. I'm posting this as many of you knew her from my postings and trip reports and also to remind all of you that you need to decide what the really important things are that you want to experience in this life and do them if at all possible,

Sumner

As many of you have noted Ruth was an extremely special person and a modest one. She had a number of BA degrees, a couple MA degrees and was working on a Doctorate degree when she meet me and I got her sidetracked. She started work at Douglas Aircraft as a filing clerk and 35 years later after Douglas had been bought by McDonnell and later Boeing had worked up to a purchasing agent traveling both here and in Europe and the Far East. She was extremely well read, having hundreds of books on many topics, most of which I don't understand.

I'm staying really busy, my current coping measure. Working on the Mac and will take the boat down to Florida with me in a month or so. I need to finish work on the Endeavour and put her up for sale. I'll be keeping the Mac and have some tentative trips/plans for her and will try and get back on here more as I pursue them.

Ruth and I meet many really good people through this forum, both in person and via the interaction here. We appreciated the bunch of you and I still look forward to more contact in the future. Any of you that are going through Utah's SE canyon country are invited to stop and visit anytime,

Sumner

[Highlander]

My sincere thoughts r with u in this time of ur sad loss, remember the good times & great memories & fond times you both had together will get u & family through these hard moments & times , remember Ruth has not left this world she has just sailed off to another horizon

John

[Québec 1]

Sumner,
Interestingly, given I have never communicated with or met Ruth I don"t think I will ever forget her. I always thought and still do that you are a lucky man Mr. Sumner.
Good luck,
Bertrand


p.s. I also believe that everyman makes his own luck

Q1

[Dimitri-2000X-Tampa]

Sumner, I'm a little late with my condolences as I frequently don't have time to read all the posts but this one just caught my eye and I'm really really sorry for your loss. I've greatly enjoyed reading about all of your and Ruth's adventures and hope to run into you one of these days. Dimitri

[Buell_S1W]

Dear Sumner, I am so sorry to hear of Ruth's illness & passing. My deepest sympathies. I have been away from the MacGregor site for a while & have only just stumbled upon these messages, my apologies for the lateness. Like everyone else here, I have marvelled over Ruth's canvas work, indeed all the mods & travels you have both done & posted here. My best wishes go out to you & your family.
Regards,
David
Christchurch
New Zealand.

[cptron]

My late condolences as well. You will be in our prayers. I feel that you have become part of our family and have not even had the chance to meet you. I wish we could have met Ruth. However that will have to wait until we meet in heaven. We are in North Carolina and you are invited here anytime. We would love to have you.
Best wishes and may your seas be calm.
Ron and Cindy
Storm Walker