Ruth Chinn

Born on October 31, 1928, Ruth was a Portland resident for all of her 84 years. She was the fourth child and second daughter of Russell Fong and Hom Shee.

She attended Commerce High School and was chosen as their Rose Festival princess in 1946, the first Asian American princess ever selected.

In 1950, she married Harding Chinn. They were married for nearly 60 years, until his death in 2010.

Though she lived close to her birthplace for her whole life, she saw a lot of the world. One of Harding and Ruth’s great joys was planning and taking their annual autumn journeys to somewhere new in the world.

Their other joint passion was dancing. They sought out dance bands, big and small, and were a picture of style and elegance on dance floors all over town. Typical of their lives, Ruth and Harding not only discovered new lands and new bands; they discovered new people. Many of the people they met on trips and on the dance floor became lifelong friends.

Ruth worked as an executive secretary and office administrator from the time she was 20 until she happily retired at 55. Among her employers were Danner Boots, White Stag and McGill’s Tree Nursery.

She loved working with her hands and she spent her leisure time sewing, knitting and painting.

Ruth lived most of her life in a house in NE Portland. She moved in as a newlywed in 1951 and raised her two children, and hosted countless family gatherings and Christmas Eve open houses there. Christmas Eve was the official open house at the Chinn residence, but, in truth, it was one 63-year-long open house. Ruth made it home not only to her immediate family, but also to the many members of her extended family and circle of friends who came to stay for a few hours, a few days or a few months.

In her later years, her strong wish was not to have to move from her house. She got her wish. On March 18th, 2013 she passed away quietly at home.

Ruth is survived by her son, Stephen, daughter-in-law, Judy, daughter Krista, son-in-law Chris, grandchildren David, Kimberly, Victoria and Weston, and nieces and nephews, who will miss her love and counsel, but who are glad that she’s happy and at peace.