Ruth Elizabeth White

Ruth Elizabeth (Severson) White, daughter of Selmer & Elizabeth (Foley) Severson was born July 29, 1929, in Monroe, Wisconsin. She graduated from Monroe High School and received a Bachelor of Education Degree from the University of Wisconsin, Whitewater. She later received a Masters Degree in Education from California State University, Long Beach.

Ruth taught high school in Port Washington, Wisconsin and Janesville, WI for four years and moved to California in 1955. She then taught Business Education subjects in the Santa Barbara, CA High School District for 36 years, with the majority of her tenure at Dos Pueblos High School (DPHS). DPHS was her beloved 2nd home. She was Awarded Santa Barbara County Teacher of the Year on many occasions. While at DP she set up the first Office Simulation Classroom and assisted many students with finding careers/jobs outside of the classroom. Ruth also secured numerous vocational/educational grants and served as the Chair Lead for the Business Education department. In addition to teaching at DPHS, after school she taught Adult Education classes through Santa Barbara’s Regional Occupational Program. She finally retired in 1995 and continued to substitute teach for many years after retirement. She loved her teaching days, and several former students still remain in touch with her.

In 1957 Ruth & Bill White were married in Santa Barbara at Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church. They raised 3 sons there and retired to San Clemente, CA in 2002. She and her husband enjoyed traveling to many places including Europe, Greece, Australia, New Zealand, Costa Rica, Mexico, but Maui, Hawaii was always special to them.

Ruth loved Santa Barabara but made many friends in San Clemente also. She adored her friends and spent many wonderful times with them. She enjoyed the many activities in the San Clemente Talega Senior Community where she lived and remained an active member. In the Gallery she always looked forward to hanging with the girls: playing canasta, bunco, Mexican Train, book club, and watching bocce ball.

She is survived by her 2 sons – Scott (Molly) of Rancho Santa Margarita and Mark (Alyssa) of Newport Beach. She is also survived by her 7 grandchildren of whom she was so proud – Kyle, Lauren, Brooke, Joe, Emma, Chase and Brenden.

She is predeceased by her husband, Bill, of 60 years in 2018 and her son, Steven of Madison, Wisconsin in November the same year, and her sister Joan in 2022. She was a wife, mother, grandmother, sister, mother-in-law, teacher and friend to many. She will be deeply missed by her friends and family who loved her dearly.

A funeral mass will be held on Friday, October 24 – 11:00am at Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church in San Clemente: 105 N La Esperanza, San Clemente, 92672

In lieu of flowers, please donate to the United Boys and Girls Club of Santa Barbara County: www.unitedbg.org