Ruth Florence (nee: Deas) Wilken

It is with heavy hearts that we share the passing of our beloved wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother, Ruth Florence Wilken. Ruth passed away peacefully on April 21, 2022 at her home in Nanaimo, BC with her loving husband by her side.

Ruth was born in Timmins, Ontario on August 31, 1939 to Thomas Deas Sr and Maisie Deas (nee: Davidson). Ruth grew up in Timmins and Smooth Rock Falls before her family settled in Beaverton, Ontario. It was in Beaverton at her parent's restaurant "The Little Brown Jug" that she met the love of her life, her husband William (Bill) Wilken.

Ruth will be remembered for her selfless love and dedication to her family, for thirty eight years she supported her husband as he served in the Canadian Armed Forces often being home alone while he was on tour, training, or active duty. The military moved the family several times to different bases across Canada and each time Ruth helped settle her family into their new community, quickly making friends, many of whom she kept in touch with for her entire life.

Ruth, along with her husband Bill, were loving foster parents to over one hundred and twenty children, each of those children held a special place in her heart and many of whom she kept in contact with as adults. Ruth volunteered for many years with Girl Guides as a Brownie Leader and with Scouts Canada as a District Secretary as well as at many summer scout camps as the chief cook. Ruth was a talented cook and baker and kept recipes in her famous recipe book; Ruth happily shared her recipes and cooking tips with anyone who asked.

Ruth had an amazing talent for making everyone feel immediately comfortable with her, she loved to talk on the phone, she had a great sense of humour, and she listened intently and always had good advice to share. Ruth's warm outgoing nature and friendly and open approach resulted in her having a very large number of close friends, all of whom she loved & treasured.

Those left to cherish Ruth's memory include her loving husband of fifty-eight years William (Bill) Wilken, her sister Elizabeth (Betty) Johnson of Kapuskasing Ontario, her children, daughter Lynda Wilken Walters, son-in law Nathan Walters, & son Robert Wilken, her grandchildren Eric & Leslie Schofield, Micheal, Karlee, Jeffery, Jonathon and Michelle Wilken & Hannah, Noah and Drew Walters, her great grandchildren Kennedy Erickson, Brixton Grant-Schofield & Jackson & Lyneah Wilken, her treasured sister in law Patricia Wilken Holding and brother in law Kenneth Wilken, along with several nieces and nephews.

Ruth was predeceased by her parents Thomas Deas Sr and Maisie Deas, her brothers William A Deas and Thomas Deas Jr, her beloved father and mother in law Eric George Wilken and Betty Wilken (nee Cole).

A service celebrating Ruth's life will be held on Saturday, May 14, 2022 starting at 1:00 pm at the Lantzville Legion located at 7227 Lantzville Road in Lantzville, BC. Those who knew and loved Ruth are welcome to attend.

Ruth was a loving dedicated wife, an incredible mother, the best grandmother and a cherished great grandmother, she will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her.

In lieu of flowers the family asks that you make a donation in Ruth's memory to the Canadian Diabetes Association.

“When you speak of her,

speak not with tears,

for thoughts of her should not be sad.

Let memories of the times you shared

give you comfort,

for her life was rich

because of you.”