Ruth Pummel Herbig

1921-2004

Our mother passed away on Saturday, November 20th, at the age of 83.

Mother was born on February 17, 1921 to Lucile Fenno and George Gilbert Pummel in Fargo, ND, and spent the first 16 years of her life on their ranch near Dawson, ND. She rode horses, wrote plays and was on the Women?s state Championship Basketball team. Her family moved to Spearfish, SD, where she attended Black Hills Teachers College, and met our Dad, Merle. They were married on June 29, 1941, in Conway, SC. During the war years they were stationed at various Army bases, including Hawaii, a special place for them. They moved to the Tri-Cities and lived in Pasco from 1952 ? 1964 where Dad worked for the Corp of Engineers on the Ice Harbor Dam project, then as a full-time Civil Service employee working for the Army Reserve. While there, Mother taught junior high, was a Cub Scout Den Mother, and survived two types of cancer. Mother and Dad were also founding members of the Pasco Presbyterian Church.

The family moved to Seattle in 1964. In 1965, Mother became one of the first two women Elders in the Presbyterian Synod of Washington and Alaska. She was active in Woodland Park Presbyterian Church the rest of her life, as deacon, elder, and member of PNC. She was also active at the Presbytery and Synod level. Mother worked for the American Cancer Society as the Field Representative for South King County. Her organizational skills and her cancer survivorship were an inspiration to many. She developed many long-term friendships with her volunteers, often meeting for lunch until just a year ago.

Mother was often back to the Black Hills of South Dakota to visit her parents and her brothers, Clayton Pummel Spearfish ? dec. 2004, Willard Pummel Belle Fourche and Blayne Karen Pummel Spearfish. We had wonderful family reunions in Spearfish Canyon and at Cheyenne Crossing with the Pummel family that she loved so much. The last reunion was at the Wickiup Village Cabins for Mother and Dad?s 50th wedding anniversary. She was especially happy to host a Pummel-Herbig reunion in Washington State, near Mount Rainier. Her last visit in July 2003 included lunch with several dear college friends.

Mother?s interests were wide and varied. She wrote poetry and plays, some of which we performed; gardened avidly; was an ardent fan of the Sonics and the Mariners; enjoyed Opera, the Symphony, the ocean and literature; was a lifetime student of history. Her love of travel took her to Europe, Alaska, the Mediterranean and the Holy Lands. Her zeal for genealogy research led her on many cross-country travels ?cemetery hopping nationwide?. She self published both the Herbig and Pummel family histories.

Mother and Dad had a large home in Seattle, that we affectionately called the ?Herbig Hilton?; as it was often filled with family and friends. No one ever left her house hungry, nor having won at a friendly game of cards. She served the role of confidant and advisor to many people, with discretion and respect.

Mother?s passion was the plight of homeless women. She regularly volunteered as host at her church?s women?s shelter, sleeping on the floor with the women well into her seventies, and authoring and advocating a successful overture from Seattle Presbytery to the Presbyterian Church USA to address the needs of homeless women. Mother truly ?walked her talk?. Mother?s particular delight was her family.

Her grandchildren and nieces and nephews were of deep interest and a source of joy to her. She was a very involved and loving grandparent, while never being intrusive or judgmental, although she was a bit of a stickler for proper grammar being an English teacher!.

Mother is preceded in death by her husband of 60+ years, Merle Herbig, her dear brother Clayton Pummel, sisters-in-law Darlene Pummel and Marie Pummel, and infant daughter, Linda Marie. She is survived by her brothers, Willard and Blayne Karen Pummel; her children, Sandra Gerald Tinker, Kennewick, WA; Marla Herbig, Seattle, WA; Ronald Christie Herbig, Battle Ground, WA; Alan Debra Warren Herbig, Seattle; Bruce Ann Herbig, Brier, WA. She was greatly fond of and loved by her grandchildren, Michael Tinker, Edward Terry Pope Tinker, Cheri Rodney Fleck, Scott Tinker; Kate Devin Andres, Marie Herbig, Paul Herbig; Nigel Tiffany Herbig, Ashlee Warren; Alexander, Jonathan and Kelly Herbig; great-grandchildren, Stephanie Cameron Robinson, Jennifer Tinker; Jeremiah Tinker; Chloe Andres; Anastasia, Emma-Grayce and William Fleck, and great-great-grandchildren, Taylar Tinker and Caleb Robinson.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, November 27th at 1:00 p.m. at Woodland Park Presbyterian Church at Greenwood Ave N and N. 70th St. A graveside inurnment will take place at Evergreen-Washelli at 3:30 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions be made to the American Cancer Society or Noel House 120 Bell Street #103; Seattle, WA 98121. Please sign our online guest book at www.evergreen-washelli.com.