Alice Ruby Whitney

Alice Ruby Whitney was born July 10, 1923 on the family homestead farm in Linn County, Iowa. Her parents were Arthur Ralph and O’Del Kearns.

Later in 1940, the family moved to Salem, Oregon. There she graduated from Salem High School in 1941, and then attended business college. While working for the Oregon State Income Tax Department she met Aaron C (Chet) Whitney. They were married in 1946 when Chet finished his active service at the end of World War II. Chet was an apple grower and they moved to the Naches area. Then in 1955, they settled on Naches Heights where Chet planted his orchards. Alice (Ruby as she was called), lived the rest of her life at that farm.

Ruby loved the farm and enjoyed all aspects of life there. Along with raising their 2 sons, Gordon and Dan, she kept all the farm records, and knew the precise condition of the apples and where every variety was located. She grew large gardens and did a lot of canning and preserving. Bird watching was a hobby. The family enjoyed many trips to the mountains. An annual tradition was finding those wild huckleberries and Ruby could make the most amazing pies.

Church was important part of the family life. She and her late husband were active members of West Side Baptist for over 40 years.

Alice is survived by two sons: Gordon and Marilee Whitney of Duncanville, Texas and Dan and Mary Whitney of Cowiche, WA, six grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren.

The memorial service for Alice Ruby will be at Westside Church, 6901 Summitview, Yakima at 2PM on Sunday April 6, 2014.