Ruth Cornell Lemp

Ruth Cornell-Lemp, 87, died July 14, 2008, at her home in Anchorage.

A service will be at 7 p.m. today, July 18th at Christ Our Savior Lutheran Church, 1612 Oceanview Drive. Pastor Dan Bollerud will officiate. Private burial will be at a later date at Fort Richardson.

Born July 13, 1921, in Mt. Vernon, Ohio, Ruth was a nurse during World War II, working at Crial Army Hospital in Cleveland, Ohio. She was employed at Anchorage Medical and Surgical Clinic and at H&R Block.

Ruth was a member Of Christ Our Savior Lutheran Church, serving as a financial secretary and Sunday school coordinator. She also volunteered with the Alaska Crippled Children Association.

Ruth's hobbies included crafts, crocheting, knitting, helping build a log cabin and traveling with husband Paul."Ruth was a very generous person," her family recalled. "She gave of her time freely, to her church, family and friends. She always saw the good in people and lived by the philosophy found in 'The Power of Positive Thinking.' And all who knew her learned the importance of being able to recite the alphabet backward."

She is survived by her husband of 31 years, Paul Lemp of Anchorage; daughter and son-in-law, Linda and Dave Hardy of Eagle River; daughter, Sue Smith of Newberg, Ore.; son, Mike Saari of Palo Alto, Calif.; grandchildren, Matt Hardy of Syracuse, N.Y., Jeff Hardy of Eagle River, Caleb Smith and Tim Smith of Newberg; and three great-grandchildren.

The family suggests memorial donations be made to the Alzheimer's Association, 1750 Abbott Road, Anchorage, 99507 http://www.alzalaska.org/