Ruth A. Artley Smeloff

Ruth Artley Smeloff of Chandler, Arizona died peacefully on Wednesday, July 13, 2011 surrounded by the love and comfort of her family. She is the daughter of Emma Elizabeth Artley Wilt and Harry Wilt and was born in Sunbury, Pennsylvania on May 3rd, 1922. Ruth grew up in Allentown but would have many addresses throughout her life as the wife of Nick Smeloff, a pilot and officer in the United States Air Force.

They married in 1943 and raised three children, Nick, Jim and Stephanie. The Smeloff family lived in 15 different cities including air force bases located in Germany and England. In addition to being a career military wife, Ruth received an Associates degree in Interior Design from American River College in Sacramento, CA. She worked for 5 years as a manager of the interior design department at Liberty House in Sacramento. Most recently she volunteered in the Intensive Care Family Waiting Center and Gift Shop at Banner Desert Hospital in Mesa, Arizona.

Ruth’s eye for design and color was evident in the way she dressed and the way she lived. She was admired by those who knew her and even from afar by those who didn’t as a woman of elegance and style. She loved her family deeply and set an example for all about how to live. Ruth took great joy in cooking, reading, watching movies and celebrating life’s simple pleasures over a glass of wine.

Ruth is survived by her sons Nick and his wife, Susan McEldoon; Jim and his wife, Kathy and daughter Stephanie Davies. She is also survived by 7 grandchildren; Michelle and her husband, Steve, Leitha and her husband, Darryl, Rick and his wife, Rebecca, Amy and her husband, Pete, Sara and her husband, Jack, Nick Jr. and Elizabeth; 10 great grandchildren; Michael and his wife, Edlin, Joseph, Natasha, Alyssa, Brianna, Ethan, Gabriel, Kaylin, Tyler and Sophia, and 2 great, great grandchildren; Rachael and Aiden.

Friends and family are invited to attend a Memorial Service 4:00 PM Saturday, July 16th at Valley of the Sun Mausoelum Chapel, 10940 East Chandler Heights Road, Chandler AZ 85248. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made on behalf of Ruth Smeloff to the American Heart Association, www.americanheart.org.

Arrangements under the direction of Valley of the Sun Mortuary & Cemetery, Chandler, AZ.