Letters from a Sailor

Letters from a Sailor
Clark "Buss" Gerdes, USN

Wednesday, February 19, 2014

Life Without the Sailor

In Loving Memory-1976-2005
Shortly after Buss' death, Ruth suffered from a second 'nervous breakdown' and was sent to Mesa Vista Hospital in San Diego for a few months. Tim (age 21) was already out on his own, Sandy (age 19) stayed at home, and Debbie (age 15) took a Greyhound bus trip to Indiana and Illinois to visit a pen pal and her Uncle Carl and Aunt Ellen. Over the years, Ruth enjoyed going out to eat, visits from her grandchildren, her and Sandy's ever-enlarging pet cat population, and old Hollywood movies. Tim moved to Springfield, Oregon and had two children, Amanda and Andrew. He started up a pre-owned automobile sales lot, Main Street Auto Sales, and began showing classic cars for a hobby. Sandy remained at home and was a companion for Ruth throughout her years. She still lives in the house on Del Mar Avenue.  Debbie went to college, married, and had four children; Nathaniel Clark, Emily Ruth, Ryan Michael, and Rachel Louisa. She and her husband, Paul, settled in Grand Forks, North Dakota where she is a registered nurse.
Ruth lived in their cozy little house in Chula Vista for the rest of her life. She missed Buss terribly and was lonely for him until she died from a stroke on November 5, 2005, at the age of 84.

Postcard from Debbie-1976

Sandy, Tim, Debbie-circa 1980. Made as a gift for Ruth.

Ruth-circa 1990
Debbie and Ruth-July 7, 1984
Ruth with four of her grandchildren-Old Town, San Diego 1994

Ruth at home with Debbie, Paul and kids-1997

Debbie, Sandy, Emily, Rachel, with Ruth at home- 1999
Ruth-September 2005
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Letter Ruth wrote to Debbie-2002


Little Chapel of the Roses-Reverend Norman Johnson

Debbie, Tim, Sandy
Christmas 1955 at Martin and Katie's farm in Illinois. Ruth, Timmy, and Buss

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