Ruth Thomas

The vibrations on the air are the breath of God speaking to [one’s] soul.

Music is the language of God.

-Ludwig van Beethoven

Music was Ruth’s first love. It resounded through her life until her death on May 7, 2026. Ruth Laura Thomas had recently celebrated her 92nd birthday, where she was surrounded by her family and by music.

Born the child of Glenn Merton Jones and Gladys Williams Jones in Stanton, MI on May 1,1934, Ruth fell in love with the piano when she was 7 years old. She quickly discovered that she didn’t just love music, she was really good at it. At 12 years old, Ruth was asked to perform in a two piano duo at the Detroit Music Hall, a great honor. Throughout her childhood, she was selected to perform on a local radio program, was the lead pianist for her school band and orchestra, and was on track to attend the Julliard School of Music. Music was her life.

“To say I loved playing the piano would be an understatement. It was my life.” 

(For This I Was Created, Ruth Thomas memoirs)

But Ruth’s path to becoming a professional concert pianist took a turn when her father encouraged her to move to St. Paul Minnesota to attend Bethel College and wait a year before applying to Julliard. It was at Bethel College where she met and married the new love of her life, Frederick George Thomas. They were married on August 29, 1953. Together, Ruth and Fred shared a passion for serving God and after finishing their college degrees in 1958, (Ruth graduated from the University of Minnesota with a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education and Fred from Bethel Theological Seminary with a Bachelor of Divinity) they embarked on a 32-year labor of love, as missionaries in the Philippines.

After a 21 day voyage on board the President Cleveland passenger ship, 63 mosquito bites from their first night in Manila, a 2-hour flight on a DC-3 plane, and 6 hours in a jeep on unpaved bumpy roads, Ruth and Fred arrived in Bogo, a remote village on the island of Cebu where they would spend the next 4 years of their lives. Ruth and Fred immersed themselves in the language and culture of the Cebuano people. Ruth taught choir, Sunday school, and Bible studies to the villagers. As Ruth and Fred’s vision evolved, so did Ruth’s passion for serving God. She worked endlessly sometimes at the detriment of her health and wellbeing. She was driven by her purpose and her determination.

Ruth and Fred raised five children in the Philippines and moved 15 times in 32 years, and no matter where they lived, there was always music in their home. They listened to records of classical musicals and operas and every one of the Thomas children participated in music lessons. Ruth valued and encouraged artistic expression and creativity.

In 1978, after a fruitful ministry in Cebu planting churches, Ruth and Fred moved to Manila and worked with the Union Church and the Joy of the Lord communities. Ruth led choirs, worship services, music lessons, Bible studies, and the women’s ministries in these communities. She dedicated her life to serving Jesus, with all of her being, her time, her heart.

“I am so passionate about seeing God at work in my life and in other people’s lives. I feel that my gift is watching what God is doing around me and finding ways to join Him in what He is doing.” 

(For This I Was Created, Ruth Thomas memoirs)

In 1991, Ruth and Fred felt called to leave the Philippines. They had raised five children, graduated four of them from Faith Academy (K-12 school for children of missionaries), and felt that they were being led to serve a new purpose in the U.S. They relocated to Minneapolis, MN and several months later, Fred was offered a job with the Billy Graham Evangelical Association (BGEA).Ruth and Fred packed up their lives and moved again, first to Vancouver, WA and then finally, to settle in Riverside, CA.

Riverside would draw Ruth and Fred closer to their two oldest sons Daniel (Kevin) and David and eventually become a prime location for their new role as grandparents to Brittney, Ian, Dominique, and Jacqueline. Ruth taught piano lessons to her grandchildren and enjoyed being a part of caregiving for Dominique, Daniel’s youngest daughter.

Fred continued to work for BGEA and together Ruth and Fred found a home with the Inland Vineyard Christian Fellowship Church in Corona. They built lifelong friendships and Ruth led women’s ministries, was involved in the music program for the church, and used her talents and her passion to serve her community.

Ruth and Fred spent their golden years traveling internationally, including a memorable trip to Switzerland hosted by their son Daran. Ruth also enjoyed mother/daughter weekends to San Francisco, San Diego and Seattle with daughters Denise and Debi.

Finally, in 2015, Ruth and Fred decided it was time to slow down and they moved to Stanwood, WA to join the Warm Beach Senior community and to be closer to their daughter Debi and granddaughters Mia and Zoe. Ruth spent time teaching Mia and Zoe piano, starting a garden, and sharing formative developmental years with them. Again, Ruth found a way to bridge her love of music by leading the Warm Beach women’s choir, organizing and performing in the annual talent show, and even starting a dance class for seniors.

After Fred’s passing on July 11, 2022, Ruth remained with the Warm Beach community staying active in choir, volunteering with the residents in the nursing home, and organizing the occasional dance party.

Ruth was a woman of purpose and lived a life of intention. She did not spend her time idly but was always looking for ways to contribute. Even in her final weeks she would ask, “what can I do that has meaning?”

On the day before Ruth passed away, the hospice music therapist Jordan sat with Debi and Zoe and played the guitar and sang for hours. Ruth, Debi, and Zoe listened to and sang old hymns and Ruth’s spirit was finally at peace. She passed away early in the morning on May 7, 2026, surrounded by music.

Ruth joins her husband Fred in heaven and is honored in memory by her five children Daniel (wife Robin), Denise (husband Craig), David (wife Lyndi), Daran, and Debi (husband Brian), six grandchildren Brittney (husband Tony), Ian, Dominique (husband Hayden), Jacqueline, Mia, and Zoe and two great grandchildren Emmarie and Nolan.

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In lieu of flowers, the family welcomes memorial donations to Teen Feed.

Teen Feed works with the community to offer support to meet basic needs, build strong relationships, and ally with houseless youth as they meet their future off the streets.

https://teenfeed.org/donate/