Ruth Santillian, wife, mother and grandmother, was born on the San Carlos Apache Indian Reservation on Dec. 24, 1929. She lived most of her life in California, marrying at a very young age to her husband John De Santillan, and together with her husband raised four daughters and a son in Santa Barbara and more recently resided in Lompoc.

She is predeceased by her husband in 1986, her daughter Lydia (Mrs. Rocky Peebles) in 2018, and an infant daughter Irene in 1946.

Throughout her long life, Ruth supported her family and taught them the meaning of living a decent life, respecting others, and always being able and willing to see the “other side” of an issue that might be brought to her attention. She was quick to love others and ready to support her family and her friends.

In time, she suffered many sad losses but always tried to overcome hardships and she taught her family to be strong yet caring of others. She was patient and kind and funny and strong and always knew “the right thing to do” in a situation.

Hopefully, she passed that confidence and strength on to her children Rose Pueschel and husband Bob, Robert (Bear) Santillan and wife Sarah, Diana Goto and husband Dave, Benita Crawford and husband Luke; and grandson Marc Pueschel and wife Kimberly; granddaughters Ginger, Emily and Hannah and their husbands Jorge , Raul and Dee, respectively; and young great grandson (Lord). She is also survived by a step-brother, Ruben Anaya and his family of San Jose, Calif.

She walked in beauty and honesty and many will be better for having known and loved her.

A memorial service will be held in Santa Barbara at a future date. Our thanks go to her many friends at the North Street Baptist Church of Lompoc for their continued support and the kind folks at Lompoc Valley Hospital as well as her special caregiver Leigh Garcia.