Ruth K. Itamura, 89, of Terre Haute, passed away peacefully in the presence of family, early Tuesday, June 4th after a brief illness. Ruth was born on May 12th, 1935, in Wahiawa, Hawaii to John Y.A. and Edna (Ito) Kim.  She was the second oldest of five children.  December 7th, 1941, Ruth was five and a half years old when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor.  Although that day was a tragic one in American history, she enjoyed sharing her memories of that day and those that followed with students. Ruth graduated from Leilihua High School in 1953.   After attending University of Hawaii her freshman year, she arrived in Terre Haute to Indiana State Teacher’s College.  Ruth received a B.S.  in Education 1958.  She would later complete her M.S. and a certificate in Counseling from Indiana State University. That same year, she began her career in education.  Ruth was a third grade teacher at Fairbanks for two years.   In 1960, she began teaching third grade at Davis Park.  Ruth began teaching fourth grade in 1964 and remained at Davis Park for sixteen years.  In 1977, she became one of the first five elementary school counselors in Vigo County.  She worked with children at Meadows, Devaney and Hoosier Prairie Elementary Schools.  In 1957, she visited Chicago with a fellow Hawaii student from Indiana State Teacher’s college. That friend introduced Ruth to her neighbor from Maui, Hawaii, Gordon Itamura. Keeping her promise to complete her college degree before marrying, Ruth and Gordon married June 7th,  1958, at the Chapel at Stephen’s Episcopal Church in Terre Haute.  They had two children, Janice and Tad. After many years, Ruth retired after teaching, counseling and loving the students she had the opportunity of working with.   She was a founding member of EHA (Educational Heritage Association, Inc. of Vigo County), whose purpose is to collect, preserve and promote education in the Wabash Valley.   Ruth worked tirelessly and happily among fellow retired educators to help grow and preserve memorabilia from Vigo County schools.    She was a member of Delta Kappa Gamma, serving on committees and held various leadership positions.   Ruth also was a member of Red Hats, Vigo County Retired Teacher’s Association and St. Stephens Episcopal Church, where she was a lay reader and member of the altar guild.   She loved working in the garden and yard with Gordon. Ruth was passionate about education, people and thinking of and doing for others.  She was preceded in death by her parents (John Y.A. and Edna Ito Kim), and Indiana Family Marshall and Anne Hubbard and Joan Hubbard of Terre Haute.  She leaves behind her husband, Gordon, daughter Janice of New York City, son Tad, his wife Mary, grandsons Avery, Aidan and Oliver of Indianapolis.  Her siblings Marian Chow, Jack Kim, Marjorie Kashiwada and April Kimura of Hawaii, cousins, Great Aunt, many nieces and nephews most of whom reside in Hawaii.  Family also includes Ward, Rosemary and Courtney Hubbard of Terre Haute,  Anne Hubbard of Shreveport, LA, Ross Hubbard of Naples, FL, and Janet, Keith, Claire, Allison and Marshall Anderson of Grand Rapids, MN. The family extends sincere thanks to the doctors, nurses and other staff members of Union Hospital for their expertise, professionalism and compassion while caring for Ruth.   They also  thank The Gibson Family Center for Hospice Care staff for their support and guidance. No visitation or service will be held per Ruth’s final wish.  The family understands that many will want to pay respects and written condolences are welcome.  Ruth will be remembered and honored privately by her family.  In lieu of flowers, Ruth requested donations be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (St.Jude.org) and the Educational Heritage Association, Inc. of Vigo County (P.O. Box 3544, Terre Haute, IN 47803).

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