Ruth Elizabeth (Rafaj) Goodwin, 93, died peacefully at home in Redmond, Washington on August 26, 2016. Ruth was born on July 15, 1923 in Dickson City, Pennsylvania to Susan (nee Habera) and Rev. Paul Rafaj.

In 1938, Ruth won a radio spelling bee and became known in the family as "The Spelling Champ." Her framed victory medal always hung in the entryway of the family home. Graduating from Dickson City High School in 1939, Ruth soon left her home for a job with the Navy Department in Washington, DC at the outbreak of WW II.

Ruth met her beloved husband, Winslow W. "Bill" Goodwin, in the nation's capitol while he was completing Navy flight training. Ruth and Bill were married in January 1945 in a ceremony officiated by Ruth's father at St. Stephen's Lutheran Church in Dickson City, Pennsylvania.

Once her children were grown, Ruth began a second career, earning a Medical Records certification from Pierce College. She worked at Woodview Calabasas Hospital and Los Robles Medical Center in southern California and later at Overlake Hospital in Washington State.

In 1986, Ruth and Bill replaced their California house with a fifth-wheel trailer and took to the road for a year visiting family and friends in the US and Canada. Settling in Bellevue, Washington, their next trip was to Europe, traveling with Ruth's sister, Grace, and visiting her sister Joan in Durham, England. Back in the US, Ruth and Bill drove their Buick Roadmaster throughout the Northwest and Rocky Mountain states while keeping up with their children and grandchildren.

A passionate student of history and music, Ruth enjoyed concerts and the theater in both Los Angeles and Seattle. Her dry sense of humor came out in her writing and commentary and she passed that talent along to her children. Ruth was active in local and national politics for many years supporting candidates and causes near and dear to her heart.

Ruth is survived by her children, Linda (Dick) Powell, Peter (Mary Anderson) Goodwin and Scott (Jenifer) Goodwin; grandchildren, Kate (Chris) Allen, Chris Powell, Tess, Graham, Ryan and Travis Goodwin; and great-grandchildren, Lucy, Lily and Zach Allen. Ruth is also survived by sisters-in-law Florence Foss and Mildred Rafaj, brother-in-law Duane Olson and nieces and nephews, Mark and Janet Vrudny, Susan McLeskey, Eric Olson, Ruth Khan, Susanne O'Conor, Ward and Geoff Foss, Leigh Morrow, Nancy Spring and Allison West. Ruth was predeceased by her husband, Bill, brother Paul and sisters, Susan, Grace, Ellen and Joan.

A service celebrating Ruth's life will be held on Saturday, October 15, 2016, at 1:00 pm at St. Andrew's Lutheran Church, 2650 148th Avenue SE, Bellevue, Washington (www.SALChome.org). In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations in Ruth's memory to the St. Andrew's Memorial Fund or to the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society (www.nmcrs.org).