Ruth Evelin Kyle, nee Landis
Wednesday, January 5, 2011 at 11:59AM 
It is with great sadness and much difficulty that I must announce to the world of Science Fiction the passing of my Aunt Ruthie. She slipped away in her sleep today, during the night. Yesterday [Jan. 4] was her 81st birthday. To tell you I have so many fond memories of her as I was growing up is a huge understatement. She and my Uncle David used to fly me from Newark, New Jersey, to Potsdam, New York, on Mohawk Airlines, then Allegheny, then US Air, to live with them during the summer months of school recess. A lot of my childhood and formative years were spent reading Sci Fi books in bed at night. The cool evening winds of the North Country breezed lightly through my open window. Aunt Ruthie and Uncle David had a veritable library that overflowed the myriad shelves of books in many of the rooms of their spacious and well appointed home. As a young man, my mind was filled with fantastic fantasies that sprang to life with each passing page. It was time spent there that my fascination with the genre blossomed. My uncle is 91-years-old now, soon to be 92, and retired from writing, but they were equally instrumental in helping develop my keen imagination and avid interest in writing. It was not unusual to have dinner guests like Arthur C. Clarke and Isaac Asimov. Back then, they were just ordinary people to me.
Aunt Ruthie was an exceptional cook, too. Every meal was a gourmet adventure through Europe; England, Spain, Italy and beyond. As a matter of fact, they lived in England for several years, on the Thames River. It was a perfect place for an author to write.
I talked to Kerry, AC and Uncle David today. I’ll tell you, it wasn’t easy. God knows how much I love my aunt. My cousins, AC and Kerry, have lost their mother. Today, she belongs to God and the stars - the stars I used to visit every night in my own vivid space odysseys in upstate New York and beyond. The sci fi world has lost one of their most cherished fans.
God Bless You, Aunt Ruthie. Thank you.
The family is requesting that small donations may be made in her name to her beloved church of 50 years:
Trinity Church
8 Maple Street, Potsdam, NY 13676-1181
†
Ruth Kyle and David A. Kyle at Millennium Philcon (2001)
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Reader Comments (63)
You have my condolences, Dave. What a beautiful woman in more ways than one.
Thank you very much, Sherry. Yes, my Aunt Ruthie was very special and I am deeply saddened. It was very nice of you to comment.
I am very sorry for the loss of your Aunt Ruthie. She sounds like she was a wonderful woman who left you with wonderful memories. I will keep you and your family in my prayers.
Thank you for your words of kindness, scrapbooker5000. She sure did leave me with lots of wonderful memories. Thank you, too, for keeping us in your prayers.
Bless your heart Dave. It's been a trying time for your family. As long as you have the smile, the good memories you'll have her in that little niche she carved out for herself in your heart. Take the time to take care of yourself and yours. Tight hugs.
Connie - Yes, it's been a very trying time for my family. My father has pneumonia, my mother now has a virus of some kind, and my aunt. My father is home now, but not able to do anything. That's why I'm here; for my parents. My aunt did carve out a niche in my life; a big one, and I will always have that. My uncle will be 92 on Valentine's Day, so I have a day to celebrate his life coming soon. I wish my aunt could be there, too. In any event, thank you for the nice words and especially for the hugs.
Dave, what a beautiful tribute you write here in your love and respect for two beautiful people in your life. Love and prayers for you, your mom, your dad, uncle David and family
Thank you very much, New Puppy. My aunt's immediate family will see and read all of these comments, and I will tell them about each and every one of you. Thank you so much for caring, and for being such a wonderful friend.
Positively lovely, Dave. May the stars shine a bit more brightly upon you, this night, so that you might be certain of her love, that continues, for you.
That's very kind of you to say so, Feathers. Right now, I'm trying to locate the right Stardate. I remember way back when they visited the Star Trek sound stage in California. They sat in Captain Kirk's chair on the bridge. They were proud of that moment and mentioned it for years. God only knows how many sci fi and fantasy people they knew. Uncle Dave proudly served as a Lt. Colonel in the USAF. They both have had incredible lives. Thank you for your condolences.
Sorry for your loss Dave an condolances to your Family...........
Thank you, ecossie possie. If you only knew how much they loved Great Britain, England in particular. I wish you could have met them years ago, when they lived there.
1st time poster,random reader here...My condolences to you and your family!
Hi, Celeste. First time poster and random reader or not, your words of kindness will not go unnoticed. Thank you very much for that. It means a lot to me.
My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family Dave. I'm so sorry.
Thank you, Barbface. Your thoughts and prayers are very much appreciated. Aunt Ruthie was a delightful character and those memories will serve me well.
Dave, take all the time in the world to mourn your beloved Aunt Ruth. Although, we are miles apart,, I can sense your pain and my heart goes out to you. Your words, above, emit your love for this great lady, who stood beside your hero all these years. Aunt Ruth is painfree now and with the angels. If she could give you a message, it would be to take care of your mom and her soul mate, your Uncle David. You will always have all the memories to cherish and to hold close to your heart. No one can ever take them from you. Love, Snoopy xx
Thank you, Snoopy. Your words of support mean a lot to me. Fortunately, my uncle is in exceptional care with his son and family in SF, and his daughter and her family when he returns to the east coast this spring. He's just a super great guy who has earned a ton of respect from everyone who's crossed his path over the years. Yes, Aunt Ruthie is pain-free now, but I miss her all the same.
Dave,
So sorry for the loss of your beloved Aunt Ruth. She sounds like a fantastic person. You will always have those wonderful memories to cherish, and that's wonderful. I hope that you will
be able to spend some time with your Uncle David if possible, and share your memories. Stay strong. That's what your Aunt Ruthie would want you to do.
MB (Helen)
Yes, Helen, my aunt would want us all to stay strong. My brother came up with an idea for the both of us to get together at his place just outside of St. Louis this spring, but it looks like it will have to be later on. Uncle Dave has a lot of commitments. He still goes to sci fi conventions all around the country. The world, too, but not like it used to be. I'm glad he's remained active through the years. Thank you for your lovely words. They are important to me.
Dang, Dave- first your dad in the hospital and now this loss of a clearly-beloved and cherished relative. So sorry for you, your family, and especially your Uncle David, to have lost someone who helped open up such avenues of interest and learning. I look forward to perhaps seeing a fuller piece about her later, when you can- and thanks for sharing such nice memories of her now.
Fortunately, Karen, my father came home, but unfortunately, it was on the day my aunt passed away. That made it a bittersweet day. Absolutely, my aunt and uncle opened up my mind tremendously. How much? I don't know, but that, coupled with being very left-handed, had a lot to do with my outcome, good or bad, and for what it's worth. I do plan on updating a post I wrote about them, but mostly about my uncle, back in 2005. I will most likely do it on his 92nd birthday on Valentine's Day. Thank you so very much for your condolences. Every word from every person is of extreme importance to me and our family.
Dave I am so sorry for your lose. I know how much you loved your Aunt. Take care of yourself and the rest of the family.
Thank you, Marsha. Yes, she was always very special to me. One day, I'd like to visit the apartment in Manhattan, where we stayed the night of their wedding. It was Uncle Dave's place and I remember standing in front of a window, staring down at the traffic and being in awe of the buildings, the sheer size of them, and how many there were. I was 4-years-old, and I fell in love with NYC from that point on. I will have to ask him if he remembers the address because I should be able to Google, at least, the building. When four years old, anything and everything above one floor was tall. When I find out, perhaps you can take a picture of it sometime if you ever go near the address. He might enjoy seeing it today, 53-some years later.
Dave, God has a special place in His heart for you. He will support you and your family with His very intimate Love. We who know you as the warm caring person you are, have indeed been very fortunate.
Yes, New Puppy, God has a special place for all of us. Believe me, I am more fortunate to have met you and the others. We have become special friends and that's worth so much more than anything else in life.
My condolences to you and your family Dave.
Thank you for taking time to offer your condolences, Yvete. That is very, very much appreciated. More than you think.
Dave, please accept my condolences. I met David and Ruth Kyle at a SF convention many years ago when they lived in Florida. I was alway glad to see them when our paths crossed at other SF functions. Mutual acquaintances mentioned last week the state of Ruth’s (and David's) health. I am saddened to hear of her death.
Hello, Susan. That would be Hobe Sound. I drove my mother down there many years ago. Aunt Ruthie made Chicken Marengo for dinner. It was the first time I liked eating green olives in food, and I've never had anything that could compare to hers in quality and taste. In the home I first remember visiting, the one next to the radio station, they had a cellar that looked just like what a French cafe would appear like, including a mural of Paris painted on the walls. Uncle David used to be 6 feet tall. Age and gravity have taken their toll and he now stands at 5 feet, 7.5 inches, but his health has improved since spending time with AC and his family out in SF. AC is aware of my blog and he will see your comment, along with everyone else's. Thank you for offering your words of remembrance. I'm going to miss her a lot.
Dave, my condolences to you and your family. You can tell how special she was to you by the great tribute you gave her. She sounds like such a wonderful woman and I know you will miss her a lot. She is watching over you and the rest of your family now. You need to take care of yourself, too, so that you can be strong for your Uncle David and also for your mother. Please let us know if there is anything that you need.
Thank you, Mary Jo. She was a great lady and, yes, I will miss her tremendously. She will be remembered as the grande dame of science fiction. Yes, I need to take care of myself. My mother has the flu, it seems, and my father still has pneumonia. Thanks for your offer of help. I may need it, too.
Your memories of your Aunt and Uncle were wonderful to read and will always be with you. You were very blessed to call such special people relatives. They look like they were lots of fun too! My condolences to you Dave and your family.
Oh, Patti O, yes, my aunt and uncle have always been very special people. What's amazing is that my uncle's mind is almost as sharp as it was when he was in his twenties. His voice has remained relatively strong, too, for a man his age. To say they were fun is an understatement. Through the years, they really complemented each other. Thank you very much for your condolences.
I am so sorry to hear about your Aunt Ruth. It must be very difficult to handle the loss while at the same time visiting your father in the hospital and helping your mother out. I hope that things improve for you quickly and that the Year 2011 ends much better for you than it began.
I must say it was rather tough, Amber, but I must remain strong. My father is home and my mother is very sick with a cold or flu virus. Yes, the year can only look up from now on. Thank you for your kind words and support.
Dave, It is a blessing that such a lovely soul graced your life and gave you such riches. I am so terribly sorry for your loss. You and your family will be in my prayers. You do have a great deal on your plate right now, to say the least. You take good care of yourself, okay?
Thank you for keeping us in your prayers, Andrea. Yes, my plate is full, but it's not spilling over. I hope that day never comes. Thank you very much for your kindness. I will take good care of myself.
Dave,
I give a little bit of my love to you. As I read your article, my heart hurt with you. Then I remembered, that same sinking feeling of loss and love. Remember, as long as there is a Dave Knechel, there is an Aunt Ruthie. For she is a part of you and will always be there. What a lucky man you were Dave, to be blessed with such a lovely lady's presence. I'll end this with my usual, "Life is Good" because it is. I thank my lucky stars every day for the "Aunt Ruthie's" of the world! I am sure Aunt Ruthie feels blessed to have her nephew "Dave" a part of her life too. Again, I give a little bit of my love to you.
Wow, SageMom, those are some mighty fine words you wrote. You are right. As long as I'm around I will keep her alive in my heart and nothing can take that away. Thank you for your especially touching words, and especially for passing a little bit of your love my way. Incredible!
Sage Mom~~ you represent one of the many caring and compassionate people that Dave has in his life.
Alpha and Omega. You began by offering a little bit of love and ended with more love. I must admit your words made me misty eyed. What a wonderful person you are.
People come into our lives for a reason. Some make a tremendous impact and leave us the legacy that the world was made better by their very presense.
My deepest condolences to the entire family. I never met Ruthie or David, but their son was very kind and a good friend to me and my wife when I was in graduate school with him in Troy in the 1980s. He often mentioned them, and I am sure many of their best qualities must have been reflected in the kind man we got to know so many years ago.
Hi, Tommy. I remember you leaving a comment about AC on the post I wrote years ago about Uncle Dave. I spoke to AC on Wednesday, and you're right, he is a top shelf kind of person. So is his sister, Kerry. They came from excellent stock, one might say. Thank you for the condolences. I'm sure he he will read this.
Dave may you find comfort in the beautiful times you spent together with Aunt Ruthie . There is great peace in knowing the love you shared will remain in your heart forever. Sending my love and prayers.
Thank you very much, Nika1. I do find comfort in the memories I have, and knowing that my friends like you really do care. It's reflected in your compassionate words.
FYI~~I temporarily put my blog in lock down. I am unsure if I will open it up again. If any of my contributors or others, come here and wish to register so they wont go into moderation, fill out the form under CONTACT ME at the bottom left, of this page, in the sidebar. You will receive an email from SquareSpace with a sign in name and password. This can be changed at any time after you have registered. There is NO charge to be registered and to participate at this blog. Any donations to the tip jar are made on a voluntary basis.
I have no access to the controls to set you free from moderation. God willing, Dave will pop in tomorrow for a few minutes to release anyone in mod. Goodnight and God Bless.
What a wonderful tribute to your aunt! I send to you and your loving family all my condoleance, love and prayers
"Death is nothing at all. It does not count. I have only slipped away into the next room. Nothing has happened. Everything remains exactly as it was. I am I, and you are you, and the old life that we lived so fondly together is untouched, unchanged. Whatever we were to each other, that we are still. Call me by the old familiar name. Speak of me in the easy way which you always used. Put no difference into your tone. Wear no forced air of solemnity or sorrow. Laugh as we always laughed at the little jokes that we enjoyed together. Play, smile, think of me, pray for me. Let my name be ever the household word that it always was. Let it be spoken without an effort, without the ghost of a shadow upon it. Life means all that it ever meant. It is the same as it ever was.I am but waiting for you, for an interval, somewhere very near, just round the corner. All is well. Nothing is hurt; nothing is lost. One brief moment and all will be as it was before. How we shall laugh at the trouble of parting when we meet again!"
Henry Scott Holland
take care Dave.krgds
Such poignant words you have found, Rita. Thank you. They were just what the doctor ordered. I fully embrace them and your warm condolences. Now... I wonder if they ever traveled to Luxombourg??? I must ask him.
Dave, Sorry to hear of your loss. Family always come first. May you find strength and comfort in the love of your family and friends as you celebrate the life and mourn the passing of your precious aunt. I am thinking of you and yours at this difficult time and wish you well.
To be honest, cereusle, I have found solace in the kindness of your words and that of others. You have helped give me strength and I thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Snoopysleuth, why is your blog locked?
cereusle~~ I set my blog to private for awhile. Nobody has access. I am just taking a bit of a break from my blog and commenting here at Dave's.
Dear Dave, I am very sorry for the loss of your Aunt Ruthie. Having a family like her and your Uncle David is a true blessing. I am in agreement with the poster above, that she will live on in your memory and that you will be with her again someday. My prayers go out to your entire family.
I'm a little late responding since this is now Saturday, but here I am, and yes, she will live on in my mind and in spirit. Thank you for your prayers. God knows, we all need them right now.
I am so sorry Dave to hear about your Dad being in the hospital, hope he is feeling better everyday. My thoughts and prayers are with you at this time with the passing of your Aunt. She will remain in your heart and thoughts forever and when you speak to your cousins always know that they have all the good qualities in them that your Aunt had so she will never be gone. You wrote a wonderful tribute to her and for that she would be so proud. You are a wonderful man for all you do for your family. You take all the time in the world with your family and don't worry we have Snoopy that will take care of your blog and us because she is wonderful as well.
All Is Well
Death is nothing at all,
I have only slipped into the next room
I am I and you are you
Whatever we were to each other, that we are still.
Call me by my old familiar name,
Speak to me in the easy way which you always used
Put no difference in your tone,
Wear no forced air of solemnity or sorrow
Laugh as we always laughed at the little jokes we enjoyed together.
Play, smile, think of me, pray for me.
Let my name be ever the household word that it always was,
Let it be spoken without effect, without the trace of shadow on it.
Life means all that it ever meant.
It it the same as it ever was, there is unbroken continuity.
Why should I be out of mind because I am out of sight?
I am waiting for you, for an interval, somewhere very near,
Just around the corner.
All is well.
By Henry Scott Holland (1847-1918)
Canon of St Paul's Cathedral
You know, Janet, I brought my father home on Wednesday, the same day my aunt died. Meanwhile, my mother has some sort of cold or flu virus and she's not doing well, either. Oh well, knock on wood, but I'm not sick. Yet. Thank you for the Holland Canon. Rita wrote it upthread and it's very helpful. Great minds think alike, I believe. Thank you, Janet. All will be well soon.
I just posted a link to the video of yesterday's hearing in Temporary Time Out... Just check Recent Comments in the side bar at your right...
Dearest Dave:
Please accept my deepest condolences for the recent loss of your Aunt Ruth.
Loss, and the grief that follows, are never easy and definately put test to the times, and times to the test.
Time is slow for those who mourn, but it is this time, that helps to heal, and ease us back to inevitably, living once again...
You can shed tears that your Aunt Ruth is gone,
or you can smile because she lived.
You can be empty because you can't see her,
or you can be full of the love that you shared.
You can turn your back on tomorrow, and live in yesteday,
or you can be happpy for tomorrow - Because of yesterday.
You can remember her, thinking only of her as being gone,
or you can cherish her memory and let those memories live on.
You can close your mind, be empty and turn your back,
or you can open your eyes and look back at the life she lived.
Of course, you can ask what she would want for you?
And you can do, what I am sure she would want you to do -
Smile, love, and go on living life... (AU)
I send my prayers, thoughts, hopes and wishes out to you!
I hope your father is feeling better, and I trust the supportive family you appear to have, will bring comfort to your mother at such a difficult time.
Again, my thoughts are with you at this difficult time!
Please take care of yourself, Dave!
CptKD
Thank you, CptKD. Your words are very comforting. I really appreciate your thoughts and prayers, too, and my aunt would want all of us to keep moving on, so we will. Her family has been very strong since she passed on. That's the way it must be.
David: I have known Ruth and Dave since 1963. Roger, since the 50's with his having met them before they were married. We've visited them in Potsdam, England, and when they lived in Hobe Sound. We live in Orange City now, formerly in Orlando. We've met your brother and of course your Mom and Dad, but I'm not sure if we ever met you. We've been in touch with Dave and Ruth since her stroke as well as your cousin Kerry. Although we were getting reports that Ruth was not doing well at all, we were still not prepared for the phone call we got yesterday. But we take comfort in knowing she is at peace now.
Your tribute to her was absolutely lovely. I hope the family gets to see it. Pat and Roger
Well, Pat, you know what a wonderful person my aunt was and what my uncle still is. You know, it's interesting that I can remember back to when I was 3-years-old, but my first recollection of Aunt Ruthie and Uncle David was at their wedding in NYC. Now that I know the date, I had just turned 5 four days before. AC and Kerry put up a link to their Web site. There are some very nice photographs of her and Uncle David through the years.
Despite the news about her health during the past year, you're right, none of us were really all that prepared, and yes, there's no more pain. That helps considerably. Thank you for enjoying my tribute. She was one incredible woman.
On a sidenote, I just mentioned you to my parents and, of course, they remember both of you. It's been years, but my mother said how close you always were to Ruthie and David.
Dave, sorry to hear this about your Aunt.
Thanks, Stewy. You know what I thought about her all these years.
Sincere condolences for your loss, Dave. I take my job as "Aunt" quite seriously and I'm always thrilled to hear when one of my 19 nieces and one nephew share an interest of mine. I only had 2 aunts but they have had a huge impact on my life. Your Aunt Ruthie must have been one special gal. No doubt your mother needs your support now more than ever. Sending healing prayers for your Dad. {{{{BIG HUG}}}}
That big hug came in handy, katfish. I needed it. Of course, healing prayers are always an appreciated thing. You are a lovely person, you know. Thank you.
Dave, my deepest sympathies to you, your uncle and your family. The wonderful contributions your aunt has made to the world will live on in her loving family. My grandfather Louis Lawes knew your uncle during his time living in Weybridge, England, around the time of my birth. Your uncle gifted my grandad with a signed copy of his first sci-fi encyclopedia and that and his other work have been very important to me. There is a great account (in his own words) of how your Uncle Dave met your Aunt Ruth at a sci-fi con - http://jophan.org/mimosa/m10/kyle.htm - Gef
Hello, Gef, thank you for your sympathies. I recall commenting back and forth on my post about Uncle David I put up years ago on my other blog. Thank you for putting up the link, too. I've read that account before, but it was years ago. It was great to read it again. By the way, AC and Kerry are organizing his e-mail account, and you can contact all 3 of them through the memorial site they put up. I added a link at the end of my post about her. Again, thank you.
I live near Potsdam, NY and Ruth and I were members of Trinity Church choir for many years and always enjoyed each others company. Ruth was a very active member of our church and enjoyed having the ladies for high tea at Christmas time for a number of years.
Ruth made my daughter one of her very special eggs that included a miniature copy of their wedding invitation.
Ruth also had a great laugh and was a very interesting woman and will be missed.
I knew Aunt Ruthie belonged to that church, Marsha, but I'd never visited the Web site until now. Yes, the church has lost one of its most avid parishioners, but look what the Lord gained! I wonder who she's serving tea to now?
We have a few of her eggs. I neglected to point out that they are on display in the photo at the bottom of my article. She was really into those eggs, and she was quite good at them. I'm glad your daughter is the proud owner of one. I am very happy you had my aunt in your life. She was one of a kind and, yes, she is already missed. I am going to send the church a check next week. That's what the family is requesting. Please tell your friends how much we all love her. Thank you very much, Marsha.
Dave,
From my heart, you have my deepest sympathy on the loss of your beloved Aunt Ruthie. You have so many wonderful memories stored in your heart that you will never forget. My mother's name is Ruth (Aunt Ruthie to many). She passed away many years ago and I still miss her.
I sincerely hope your father recovers and is back to enjoying life very soon. I am sorry for what you are going through at this time. Take care.
I really do appreciate your deepest sympathy, OldCarGal. I have many, many wonderful memories of times spent together, times that I've relived over and over and over again in my mind, so this loss is not the end of anything, it's just an adjustment. She will live on. As you know, there's something special about the name Ruth, and we will miss ours for as long as we breath.
Right now, both my parents are sick and I sure hope I remain free of what they have or I will have trouble taking care of them. Thank you very much for your concern.
Gef, thank you for sharing the article that Uncle Dave wrote about when he met Ruth. What a great article! I am sure that Dave will treasure this article and will appreciate you sharing it. Thanks again.
I want everyone to know how much your comments mean to me. I am going to answer each and everyone of them tomorrow. Thank you.
I've been doing some research into my aunt and uncle's illustrious past. For instance, I knew Uncle Dave was an illustrator before he was a writer, but I did not know he drew the original map, still used, in the Conan the Barbarian books published by Gnome Press, which he and another man founded. Also, I didn't know Gnome Press first published Asimov's I, Robot. The same book today, in good condition, was selling for $6,000. That same book I read during nights spent there.
I really needed to do some reminiscing today. My aunt and uncle have been a very, very important part of my life. I sure would like to see him someday soon.
By the way, you can read some of his own reminiscences at David Kyle, Mimosa Memoirs
Dave,
I posted on your last blog, but do want to send my deepest sympathies, again, to you and your family. You take care and don't hurry to come back - you need time to mourn and keep yourself healthy. We all miss you and will wait till you are good and ready. Thanks.
P.S. Snoop is doing a great job with answering questions from your fellow bloggers - good job, Snoop!
Hello, simba. It's very nice of you to stop by and offer your words of kindness and encouragement. I will be ready to write again real soon, I'm sure, because I am getting edgy. This was not a good thing, but I've got to keep moving ahead. Thank you so very much. Yes, Snoopy has been doing a great job in my absence. She's a real trooper.
Dave, My condolences to you and your family. Also, I will keep you in my thoughts, and prayers.
Dave, taking care of your family comes first. I do hope your Dad is out of the hospital by now.
Be Well.
Hi, Rob. Yes, my father is home but still pretty sick. So is my mother. Oh well, I guess it still pours when it rains. I am trying my best to take care of them. Thank you for caring.
My sincerest condolences to you and your extended family.
Thank you very much, Steve. I don't know if you knew my aunt or uncle or not, but either way, it was very kind of you to offer your condolences.
I too met Dave and Ruth Kyle through science fiction, in 1965, and enjoyed their hospitality in Potsdam and in London on several occasions. Here's a photo of them on their honeymoon in 1957; typically, at the World Science Fiction Convention in London:
Your Uncle Dave always was (and still is) a great tease, with a deadpan delivery that fooled Ruth every time. For decades, when Ruth realized she'd fallen for one of his put-ons yet again, her only response would be "Oh, David!". I can still hear her voice, and that's how I'll remember her.
I love that photo, Bill! It's the first time I ever saw it. Yep, Uncle Dave has always been a great tease with an incredible sense of humor and timing. He's a real gem. You hit it right on the head. I can still hear her saying "Oh, David!" I'll bet you I've heard it thousands of times. One thing about Aunt Ruthie was that she had a very distinguished voice. She could have been an opera star.
Thank you for sharing some of your memories. That's part of the way I shall remember her, too.
Bill Burns, thank you so much for the picture of Ruth and David. That is a treasure to behold. What an amazing life they must have shared together. From the bits and pieces that I have read thus far, I agree that David Kyle was quite a card and some of this humor is hilarious. What a delightful couple they made.
I have decided to comment back to you inside your own comments you left for my uncle, my cousins, and my own immediate family. It will take some time to do since both my mother and father are ill and they need my attention today. Thanks.
God bless you Dave, during this time,And My hope for you now is peace and strenght to carry you through this rough time. I pray your Mom and Dad will soon regain their strength and be able to enjoy their life once again. I know they love you for being there for them. Don't forget to get rest when you can and take care of yourself. Your aunt looks like a very beautiful woman, inside and out, with a beautiful smile. Her spirit is always with you in the memories she left in your heart. I read the article your uncle wrote about their first meeting, it reminded me of your articles. I wanted to read more. Evidently you have some of the same writing skills. You will be honoring her memory with these skills, with everything you write. Her spirit will never leave you. God bless you,stay well.
And God bless you, too, Margaret. Thank you. Your words are extremely positive and they go a long way in encouraging me to continue writing. I want to carry on. After all, it was my uncle who I always looked up to. Of course, my aunt, too, but I was always fascinated by his ability to write. What I need to do is go back and read more of his works. I'm sure I'll learn a lot. Again, thank you. Aunt Ruthie will always be with me.
The story of Dave and Ruth is one of the great romances of science fiction fandom history:
http://jophan.org/mimosa/m30/kyle.htm
Pass my condolences on to your Uncle Dave. We once shared a B&B in Den Haag, but I doubt he remembers me. I never had the privilege of meeting her.
Thanks for the link, Orange Mike. You know, you're right. It is one of the great romances of sci fi. Imagine, she shrugged off A.C. Clarke for David Kyle. Wise choice. She couldn't have done better.
I will pass your condolences on. Remarkably, his memory is still quite good. Don't be surprised if he remembers you. I wish you could have met my aunt. You most certainly would have remembered her, as well. No doubt about it.
My deepest condolences to you and your Uncle Dave, and the rest of your family.
Hello, Al, I remember you finally got in touch with Uncle David last May. It took a little while, but I'm glad you did. Thank you very much. I will make sure to pass your condolences on to him. He will be 92 on Valentine's Day. Amazing man, he is.
Dave sorry to hear about your Aunt, I have an Aunt Ruth also, it sounds like they lead fascinating lives and left you with many fond memories. I hope your parents are feeling better. I know what it feels like to take care of your ailing parents, you're glad you are able to do it and it comes with many emotions, it is a lot to deal with. It really puts life in perspective doesn't it? Don't forget to take care of yourself, I am sending you hugs and prayers.
Thank you, Pam2u4u. Yes, it was sad news, but like you said, I have many fond memories, and that will remain as long as I'm alive. I'm glad you have your own aunt named Ruth. I may have to adopt her, if you don't mind. There can never be too many Aunt Ruthies. My parents are hanging in there. I'm telling you, getting old is not much fun, especially when plagued by many illnesses. Yes, it's an emotional roller coaster, but it's something I need to do. They need my help and I am here for them. It's in the cards. I realize I must remain as strong as possible, so I try to take care of myself. Believe me, your hugs and prayers help, and I appreciate that very much.