BIOGRAPHY

Fear was born as Ruth Elizabeth Neer in Lafontaine, Kansas on 8 December 1911, as the eighth of 10 children born to Amos and Grace Neer. Aged five, she moved with her family to Neodesha, Kansas, where she grew up.

On 21 July 1935, Fear married her husband, Wilson, adorning a ring that he had found on the roadside and brought back for her. She sported that same ring for the rest of her life. The couple moved to Freewater, Oregon in 1940, where their first child Roberta was born that same year. In 1943, they moved back to Neodesha to be close to Fear’s family, due to expectations that her husband would be drafted into military service. Following the war’s end, they relocated again to Freewater.

Fear’s second daughter, Carol, was born in 1946, the same year the move back to Freewater took place. The family of four moved to Zillah, Washington in 1951, where they resided until Mr. Fear’s retirement. Another relocation occurred in 1972, when the Fears moved to Wapato, Washington.

Fear moved to Sunnyside, Washington at the age of 101 to live with her granddaughter Teri. She was a devout Christian throughout her life, living simply and loving her family. She outlived her husband, parents, and all nine of her siblings.

Fear died on 3 May 2022 at the age of 110 years, 146 days. In addition to her two daughters, she was survived by eight grandchildren, 28 great-grandchildren, and 29 great-great-grandchildren.

RECOGNITION

Following the death of Mary Koyano on 4 October 2021, Fear, then aged 109, became Washington state’s oldest known resident. Upon her own death, the title may have passed to Dorothy Reed (1913 – 2024).

Fear’s age was verified by Stefan Maglov and validated by LongeviQuest on 22 July 2024.

ATTRIBUTION

• Ruth Fear Obituary Valley Hills Funeral Home & Crematory

GALLERY