Ruth Ivy Parry

Ruth Parry suddenly left this world and onto the next life on January 12, 2024, in her home in Sandy, Utah. Adored by countless people, she touched the lives of many through her kindness, service and love. She was a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints throughout her life.

Ruth Wagner was born on July 13, 1933, in Toronto, Ontario Canada to her German immigrant parents Erich and Gertrude Wagner and was the oldest of five children. Her upbringing was spent in Canada. Once old enough to attend college, she moved to Utah to work and earn money in order to pay for her schooling at Brigham Young University where she majored in English. During her college years she worked for Deseret Book where Alvarus Hanks Parry was the General Manager. He met Ruth and decided it would be a good idea to introduce her to his son, Robert. A year later they were married for time and all eternity on June 10, 1957, in the Salt Lake Temple.

Shortly after they were married, they moved to Massachusetts so her husband could attend graduate school. Ruth worked as a secretary in the Harvard Physics Department. Once graduated, they moved to Denver, Colorado for employment.

Ruth knew she wanted to be a good wife and mother. Family was the most important thing to her, and she made sure to be the best for her husband and their five children, the first child who passed away as an infant. She held many church callings throughout her life as she lived in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Denver, Colorado, Orange, California, Everett, Washington and then settling in Sandy, Utah, some of which were District (Stake) Secretary, Relief Society President, Young Women’s President, and Primary President.

A highlight of her life was serving a mission with her husband in the England Birmingham mission where they met many lifelong friends and made countless memories. After the mission, however, Ruth felt a longing to continue her service, but was unsure of what to do. Her answer came when she discovered many ancestors whose genealogy work had not been completed. She loved genealogy and found so much joy and fulfillment discovering ancestors who needed their temple work done. Prior to her death she found and completed the work for over 1,700 individuals.

Ruth and her husband also served at The Bishop’s Storehouse for six years and the state prison’s Oquirrh Family History Center for nine years. Her life was full of love and service.

Ruth’s children and grandchildren were one of the greatest blessings in her life. Overnight stays with French Toast and pancakes in the mornings were everyone’s favorite. She made sure the pantry was filled with everyone’s favorites snacks, couch cushions were always jumped on and stacked to make forts. She always made sure to attend every birthday party, blessings, baptisms, confirmations, band concerts, art shows, graduations, (including through Zoom) and more for each of her 12 grandchildren so each knew they were special and loved.

Ruth is survived by her husband Robert A. Parry, her three daughters, Beverly (Hal) Monson, Shelly (Duane) Harrison, Barbara (Todd) Glaittli, and grandchildren and great grandchildren and her brother Mike and sister Janet. Preceded in death by her infant daughter Sandra, her son Russell, her parents Erich and Gertrude Wagner, and her brothers Carl and Gordon Wagner.

The family will receive family and friends on Thursday, January 18, 2024, from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm at Larkin Sunset Gardens located at 1950 East Dimple Dell Road (10600 South), Sandy Utah. Funeral services will be held Friday, January 19, 2024, beginning at 11:00 am at Larkin Sunset Gardens. The family will receive friends prior to services at 10:00 am.

She will be greatly missed by many.