Ruth Dudley Kovaka

Ruth D. Kovaka, 77, of West Lebanon died in her sleep on July 13, 2004 at Genesis Elder Care in Lebanon, NH following a long period of declining health. Ruth was born on November 8, 1926 in Philadelphia, PA, the oldest daughter of the late Howard and Helen (Nichols) Dudley. She was raised and educated in Moorestown, NJ and graduated from Moravian College in Bethlehem, PA in 1948. Ruth was an 8th grade science teacher at Orchard Park Jr. High School in Orchard Park, NY, where she lived for 30 years. Following her retirement Ruth spent many happy years sailing the Caribbean and traveling the United States with her partner, Warren Holmes. After Warren’s death in 1995, Ruth was stricken with Alzheimer’s disease. She spent her remaining years being cared for by loving family members and the staff at Genesis Elder Care. Ruth is fondly remembered as a free spirit, an independent, adventurous woman, an innovative educator, and a nurturing mother and grandmother. She enjoyed sailing, practiced yoga, rode motorcycles, defied authority, and loved her family and friends deeply. Despite her busy life she always seemed to have all the time in the world for her children. Her surviving family members include: one daughter, Kathy Olivas of Denver, CO; four sons, Stephen Kovaka of Georgetown, IN, Dan K’vaka of Laytonville, CA, David Kovaka of West Lebanon, NH, and Michael Kovaka of Bainbridge Island, WA; 13 grandchildren; two sisters, Carol Offenbach of Philadelphia, PA and Norma Warner of Westchester, PA; one brother, Howard Dudley of Reno, NV; and several nieces and nephews. Services will be private. Ruth was politically active and would have preferred votes for Kerry in lieu of flowers.