Ruth Gustafson

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Ruth Gustafson passed away peacefully in Sacramento, California, on October 12, 2013, at the age of 91. She and her husband of 56 years, Major General (Retired) Karl W. (Gus) Gustafson, were longtime residents of Augusta, Georgia. But after Gus died in July 2000 and Ruth began experiencing severe memory problems, Ruth moved to Sacramento in order to be closer to her son and daughter. Her death was attributed to complications related to Alzheimer's-a terrible disease which she fought valiantly for nearly 13 years. Ruth was born and raised in Battle Creek, Michigan where she graduated from high school, briefly worked at International Printing Ink Corporation, and met her future husband. She and then Captain Gustafson were married on February 4, 1944. During their Army career-and it was "their" career because she was the consummate Army wife and because he could not have been as successful as he was without her help and support-they lived all over the world, including China (where they were among the last Americans to leave before the communist took over), Fort Gordon (where he served as Commandant of the Military Police School), and Washington, D.C. (where he served as Provost Marshal General of the Army-the Army's top cop). When Ruth arrived in Sacramento in April 2003 at the age of 80, one of the first things she told her family was that she wanted to do something meaningful, preferably something that involved helping people. But because of the Alzheimer's disease, it was ultimately she who received the love and help she needed. She and her indomitable spirit will be missed. Ruth is survived by her son Karl (Maggie), her daughter Gail Light (Ron), six grandchildren, and one great grandson. Family and friends will gather to celebrate Ruth's life from 10:00 to 11:30 am on Saturday, October 26th at Poteet Funeral Home, 3465 Peach Orchard Road, Augusta. This will be followed by a brief graveside service at Pineview Memorial Gardens, 450 Five Notch Road, North Augusta. Ruth's family requests that, in lieu of flowers, donations in her memory be made to the Cure Alzheimer's Fund (info@curealz.org).