Evans, Ruth Call, an accomplished community volunteer, elected official, wife, mother, and grandmother, passed away peacefully at her home on November 15, 2014, at the age of 89.
Ruth was born in Colonia Dublan, Chihuahua, Mexico on September 6, 1925. She was the tenth of 12 children of Anson Bowen Call and Julia Abegg Call. She received a B.A. in education from Brigham Young University in 1950, graduating with high honors.
Ruth married John Riggs Evans, M.D. on June 20, 1950, in the Salt Lake City LDS Temple. During John's years completing his internship and residency, in Philadelphia and Los Angeles, Ruth taught school.
John and Ruth moved to Orange in 1957, where John established a medical practice in internal medicine. They enjoyed 62 happy years together until John's death in December of 2012.
Ruth had a lifelong involvement with community service and spent thousands of hours volunteering for a variety of causes. Ruth exemplified excellence in all she did and left a legacy in her community and among her family. She was an influential leader who was also kind and thoughtful and did many quiet acts of service.
Ruth served on the Orange Unified School District (OUSD) Board of Education for 20 years, from 1969 to 1989. In 1980-81 she served as the first woman president of the board. During her tenure on the school board, Ruth instituted many programs in the district. In 1984 she received the Marian Bergeson Award from the Orange County School Boards Association as Outstanding School Board Member of Orange County. Ruth was appointed to the Governor's State House Conference on Children and Youth in 1970 and 1980.
Ruth received her master's degree in Educational Administration from California State University Fullerton in 1984. For her master's thesis she authored a history of the local communities that constitute the OUSD. This book has been used as a textbook in the district. From 1987-89, Ruth was chairman of the CSUF Educational Administration Advisory Board.
The Orange Chamber of Commerce named Ruth citizen of the year in 1983. She served as a Commissioner of the City of Orange Ainsworth Historical House/Museum and was involved with the restoration of this historic home. She received the Orange Historical Society William T. Glassell Award in 1987. In 1988, the Orange Rotary Club named her a Paul Harris Fellow.
When Ruth saw a problem, she did her best to fix it. The name of the El Modena Post Office was corrected from the historically incorrect "El Modeno" thanks to her efforts. Ruth lobbied for changes in traffic patterns and installation of stop signs in the Orange area, and for maintaining the prohibition of alcoholic beverages in public parks and beaches in Orange County. She led a successful effort to prevent freeway expansion through the Orange and Tustin hills.
Ruth also served as President of the Orange County Medical Association Auxiliary from 1985-86 and as state treasurer of the organization from 1991-92.
Ruth received the BYU Emeritus Association Special Recognition Award in 1997. She was an active member of Republican Women Federated and a member of Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge, Orange County Chapter.
Ruth served faithfully in the LDS Church, notably as the adult Sunday School teacher for many years, and as president of the women's Relief Society and Young Women's organizations. She served a full-time mission for the church in Mexico from 1945-47.
Ruth cherished her roles as a wife and mother. She is survived by her five children - Barbara Openshaw, Dr. John Robert Evans (Robyn), Dr. Richard Evans (Claudia), Carol Day (Brad), Michael Evans (Laurel) - as well as 19 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her sister, Vesta Brown; her brother, Eran Call; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will take place at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 674 S. Yorba St. in Orange, on Saturday November 22 at 11 a.m., with burial to follow at the Santa Ana Cemetery. Flowers and remembrances may be sent to the Evans family via Chapman Funeral Homes in Orange. Email condolences to
www.chapmanfuneraldirectors.com. Toll Free 855-628-0447

Published in Orange County Register on Nov. 21, 2014