Judith “Judy” Lynn (Olson) Rugg was born in Everett, WA, on February 22, 1934, to Howard and Clarinda Olson and after a long battle with Alzheimer’s, departed to be with our Lord on January 17, 2017, in Kent, WA.
From Everett, her family moved to Maple Valley and then to Seattle where she graduated from Lincoln High School in 1952. She met her future husband, Melvin Rugg, in the late 40’s. They were married in 1953, nearly 64 years at the time of her passing and had lived most of that time in Kent. They also spent a couple of years in San Diego after Melvin graduated from the University of Washington Dental School and joined the Navy.
Her greatest joy in life was her family and she adored her grandchildren. She was also very active in the community with her Beta Sigma Phi sorority. After her 2 children graduated from college, she decided to study Interior Design at Highline Community College and graduated with honors. She was a homemaker, a mother, an Interior Designer and she still found time to pursue her passions and talents for sewing, painting and baking. She was a loving, caring soul with a passion for life. Her generosity and compassion for others was experienced by many and the twinkle in her eyes and her smile will be greatly missed by all her friends and loved ones.
She is survived by her loving and adoring husband Dr. Melvin Rugg; sister Clarin Blessing Olsen and husband Wayne; daughter Elizabeth Cooper and husband Geoffrey; son James Rugg and wife Kipling; 3 grandchildren, Caroline Weatherford and husband Trey, Meredith Zapffe and husband Davis, and Thomas Rugg; 3 great-grandchildren, Scarlett, Savannah and Haisten.
The family is very thankful and appreciative that she has been cared for by the loving staff at Aegis Memory Care in Kent for the past 3 years, and by Hospice.
A memorial in her honor will be held at Kent Covenant Church, 12010 SE 240th St, Kent, WA, on Saturday, February 11 at 1:00pm. Reception to follow.
Remembrances can be made to a charity or cause of your choosing.
Talk to us
Please share your story tips by emailing editor@kentreporter.com.
To share your opinion for publication, submit a letter through our website https://www.kentreporter.com/submit-letter/. Include your name, address and daytime phone number. (We’ll only publish your name and hometown.) Please keep letters to 300 words or less.
